The future of a derelict mill that was ravaged by fire will soon be decided by planners. On the March 28, a large fire spread through the Grade II Listed Hermitage Mill on Hermitage Lane, Mansfield.
As a result, a transformation plan of the building into a care home and dozens of houses has now been changed to include the partial demolition and rebuild of the mill. Planning documents have shown 31 three-bedroom houses would be built on the land around the mill if approved at Mansfield District Council's May 9 planning committee.
The original plan was for the mill to be converted and extended to provide a 70-bed care home. The new site would be accessed from the two existing entrances off Hermitage Lane and have 87 car parking spaces, with 23 allocated to the care home.
Read more: Mansfield fire: 3 men arrested on suspicion of arson after mill destroyed in fire
Hermitage Mill is one of the textile mills built along the river Maun during 18th century industrialisation. The original mill was built in 1782 as a water-powered mill producing textiles, before being taken over by a hosiery production company.
In the 1870’s the mill was extended with a large southern brick extension and a flat roof extension on its north end, then with an engine house and boiler room by 1878. More recently the mill was used as a builder’s merchants from the 1950’s until 2008 when it became vacant.
A planning document, recommending the plan for approval at the planning committee, said: "To conclude on the issue of the impact on the significance of the heritage asset, less than substantial harm would result to the setting of the listed building.
"However, significant benefits would result from the rebuilding of the Mill and finding a viable re-use for a heritage asset which is currently derelict and has stood vacant for a number of years. These public benefits are considered to be sufficient to outweigh the harm to the heritage asset and the principle of the development."
After the fire, which at its height was being tackled by 20 fire engines, three 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident. The three men remain on police bail in connection with the incident.
