An artist’s impression of how some of the homes will look, replicating the look of the old mill buildings
Plans to build 110 houses on the old factory site in Bitton were unveiled to villagers this week.
New owners St Congar invited people to a public consultation event to view and discuss new proposals regarding the redevelopment of the sprawling and derelict Golden Valley Mill.
The property developers specialise in buying brownfield sites prior to planning permission being secured. They bought the riverside site from the Stronach Group, whose redevelopment plans had included 150 homes, a care home and community employment, although they did not get as far as submitting a formal planning application.
Mill Lane as it is
St Congar say their proposed design takes its cues from a character assessment of the site and village.
The scheme is looking to provide around 110 new dwellings with “adequate on-plot parking”.
Although the old mill buildings will be demolished, the industrial feel will be reproduced with the homes on that part of the site, while the rest of the housing will have a more traditional feel.
Although there were many favourable comments about the scheme at the consultation evening on Wednesday, concern was voiced by some of the residents who live in the existing bungalows in Mill Lane. Their homes are opposite the mill buildings that will be replicated in terraced housing and they say they will be overlooked and are worried that Mill Lane will become clogged up with parked cars.
The developers say the major site constraint is the issue of flooding and parts will need to be raised significantly which will mean lorries bringing in massive amounts of fill over a six-month period.
The plan is to keep the locally listed buildings on the site and convert them for alternative, non-residential use, which could include community space, artist studio/workshop and a local convenience store.
Three areas of public open spaces are planned and St Congar are looking for ideas for what to do with the space around the remains of the former Methodist chapel at the front of the site, which was last used as a garage.
St Congar have worked with companies including Linden Homes, Bloor Homes and Taylor Wimpey. They say they are in talks with several possible housebuilders about the Bitton site and hope to submit a planning application to South Gloucestershire Council later this year.
The site’s industrial past can be traced back to 1761 when William Champion set up a brass mill by the river. Its last use was by the firm Intier which closed several years ago.
See the plans online at http://tinyurl.com/mvadyj2
