Silk factory dwelling conversion at Gants Mill, Gants Mill Lane, Bruton

“Gants Mill is located just west of the town of Bruton, on the River Brue and comprises; a Cottage, a House, a Mill building (comprising original grist mill with Silk Factory extension and engine house forward wing) and associated outbuildings, plus approximately 45 acres of agricultural land spanning the valley, defined by Gants Lane and the parallel railway line.”

“The Mill building is Grade II* Listed and the Cottage and House are Grade II Listed. The range of buildings on the site have all been built or modified on numerous occasions, over time.”

“Reference Description Decision Date 23/01947/HOU New outdoor swimming pool within rear gardens of Gants Mill House Approved 11.10.2023 23/00707/FUL 23/00708/LBC Internal alterations, altered door and window openings and new windows and doors in the north, south and east elevations, re-roofing, demolition of outbuildings, and associated landscaping Approved 17.05.2023 22/02159/FUL 22/02160/LBC Internal alterations, altered door and window openings and new windows and doors in…”

“The Continued Use of Land as a Site for Two Caravans/Mobile Homes Approved 13.06.1990 89/00185/LBC Repairs, renovation and extension to part of mill to provide additional accommodation in connection with activity holiday business Approved 29.01.1990 812096 The use of land as a temporary camping site, the conversion of two existing buildings into toilets/showers and the erection of a covered way Approved 14.11.1982”

“The Local Planning Authority’s view is that this application presents a well- balanced once in a multi-generation opportunity to secure the long-term preservation of the building and, an as sensitive as possible conversion of a significant heritage asset in the form of a Grade II* Mill.”

“The change of any historic building built to perform a specific purpose, in this case a silk factory built as an extension to an earlier grist mill, will inevitably require some physical change to enable it to be used for another use. It is essential for the new use to be viable; in this case, the new use must be able to both fund the proposed changes and essentially the maintenance of the building and its setting in the future.”

“Under powers delegated to me by Bruton Town Council Business Continuity Motion 19/71 of 21st March 2020, and after consulting the Chair and Members of the Town Council's Planning Committee, I am pleased to report that Bruton Town Council sees no wish to resile from its response of 31st January 2024, when it was previously consulted about these applications.”

“In determining applications, local planning authorities should take account of the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets (NPPF, Chapter 16, para, 210 (a)). • When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation (and the more important the asset, the greater the weight should be).”

“[name withheld] - “I write to set out my support for the current planning and listed building consent applications at Gants Mill, refs 23/03192/FUL & 23/03193/LBC. Our family were the owners and guardians of this collection of historic buildings for many decades. Having done our utmost to conserve them appropriately, the challenge and requirement for investment became too great for my wife and I, and we sold the buildings recently to the present owners.”

“The present proposals offer a comprehensive and appropriate 'rescue package' in my view, and cleverly use the later western part of the Mill (Silk Factory) for conversion to a family house as the mechanism to secure wider enhancements across the site and associated landscape.”

“It became clear that without a substantial programme of repair, restoration and conservation the Listed buildings would be at severe risk of becoming dilapidated and derelict. • The applicants acquired the site in 2022 and since then they have undertaken conservation work on two Listed buildings at the site, dwelling houses, with support from the Local Planning Authority.”

“Members felt it would be helpful to know the detailed reasons for their resistance and what viable alternative suggestions they have to secure the future of the Listed building • The proposed development seems unlikely to aggravate existing problems of vehicular access and highway safety, and may even reduce them. • Members felt that the applicants might find it useful to consult Bruton Conservation Trust.”

“To notify The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (‘the Secretary of State’) that the Local Planning Authority is minded to GRANT Listed Building Consent 23/03193/LBC for works to enable the conversion of the disused former silk factory part of the mill building and its engine house to a single dwelling house and conversion of curtilage listed outbuildings to uses ancillary to the proposed dwelling; provision of a stair tower to the rear…”