Market town waterfront could get ‘Gloucester Docks style’ revamp

There are plans afoot to redevelop a historic Gloucestershire market town mill and warehouse which has become a “sad eyesore”.

The former Borough Flour Mills in Tewkesbury, also known as Healing’s Flour Mills, on Quay Street by the River Avon has fallen into disrepair in recent years.

The site has a long history of milling and it is possibly where two mills were recorded in the Domesday Book.

Records refer to the site as the town mills in the early 13th Century. Mill buildings are shown on the site on the 1825 map of the town, according to Historic England.

And by 1865 the mill was in the ownership of Samuel Healing. He rebuilt it as a steam-powered roller mill in 1865.

At its peak in 1892, Healing’s Flour Mill was considered to be the largest and most advanced flour mill in the country and it could produce up to 25 sacks of flour an hour.

The site was bought by the Archer Daniels Midland Company in 2003.

The site was put up for sale by its then owners, an offshoot of the St Francis Group called the Corbally Group Ltd in 2017.

And the complex of buildings is now derelict.

Now Tewkesbury Borough Council leaders say they are in talks with the site’s owners.

And it could be redeveloped in a similar fashion to how Glocuester Docks were – but on a smaller scale.

The council’s ambition is that the area could be redeveloped into a destination which attracts both visitors and residents alike.

“That whole waterfront has such a potential to become an asset for the town,” Council Leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said. “Healing’s Mill is such an important part of that.

“The mill itself has an interesting history and it revived the fortunes of the town when it was originally built.

“It has got the potential to help secure the town’s future in attracting visitors, if we get this right.”

The issue was raised at last night’s (March 18) full council meeting. Councillor Mike Styzmiack (Independent, Tewkesbury North and Twyning) asked what the latest was regarding the site. He said some £17,000 has been spent on making the site safe over the last two years.

“Healing’s Mill has been shut for many years, and despite there being meetings every six weeks with the developers, there’s been nothing to show the public regarding any improvement or progress on the site,” he said.

“The only thing people see is the blatant deterioration of the building which has become a sad eyesore to both visitors and residents alike.

“When are the public going to be engaged and shown what is planned for the site.”

Cllr Stanley told the meeting there are plans to develop the site and the wider regeneration of the town.

He said he has had multiple meetings with officers and met with the developers.

“There have been discussions around us potentially buying some of the ground floor level of Healing’s Mill,” he said.

“I appreciate from residents’ view they haven’t seen a change as yet but to reassure you there are changes afoot and there will be things in due course we can share.

“That fantastic mill is going to be a huge asset to our town and will be utilised. So I share your ambition.”

Cllr Stymiack said the public wants to know what is going on. “The public are fed up with having to look at such an unloved and yet historic, derelict and unsafe building,” he said.

“But it has great potential to bring jobs, dwellings and business to the town.”

He asked if the council would consider compulsory purchase. Cllr Stanley did not rule it out

“I make this sincere commitment about seeing that site brought forward,” he said.

“I want to see Healing’s Mill as a real centre which draws people into the town. There is the opportunity with the new designer outlet village that we are going to have more people visiting on our doorstep.”