Former offices linked to a paper mill on a Devon National Trust estate could be demolished as part of plans that could see changes aimed at visitors.
Killerton House has submitted an application to confirm whether it needs permission to demolish former office accommodation buildings, which were previously cottages, and formed part of Silverton Mill.
The mill, one of the oldest in the UK, was closed in 1999 after more than 200 years in action, and was linked to DS Smith Paper Ltd.
The iconic mill building, which has a clock tower that helped mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, is not part of the application to demolish the former office buildings.
A spokesperson for the National Trust said Silverton Mill had come back to the heritage organisation several years ago.
“The Trust has been looking at long-term options for the buildings and wider site at Killerton, much of which lies within the active floodplain,” the spokesperson said.
“An assessment of five buildings has concluded that investment in these properties would not be an effective use of charitable resources.
“We will continue to work up plans so that the area can be brought back into use for people to enjoy and celebrate the industrial heritage of the site, while supporting the wider nature restoration plans on the Killerton estate.”
According to the Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA), when DS Smith were manufacturing paper on-site, during 1978 to 1999, the mill contained three paper machines and produced up to 45,000 tonnes of high quality paper every year.
“The River Culm supplied water to the mill through a culvert – a tunnel built to allow the flow of water – that ran directly underneath the site,” PITA said.
“The buildings and most of the culvert needed to be demolished to make the location safe for wildlife as well as for passers-by, and to return it to its natural environment.”
The stone buildings that are the subject of the demolition application boast a mix of tile and slate roofs, and all the buildings under the National Trust application have been altered inside and out due to the previous use linked to the paper mill.
The Trust said in planning documents that all five of the buildings that could be demolished are in a “poor condition” and require “substantial refurbishment before they can be used”.
“Additionally, four of the five buildings now sit in the flood plain further reducing potential use,” it said.
“The site was also heavily vandalised two years ago causing further damage to the buildings.”
The documents state the demolition contractor who has assessed the buildings has said after stripping out the internal structure, they would “slowly and systematically take the buildings down”.
“They will try, where possible, to salvage roofing materials, stone and floorboards for use elsewhere on the estate,” it said.
“The remaining materials will then either be disposed of off-site (asbestos and other non-recyclable materials) or crushed and used on the site for making good excavated areas and for use in other areas.”
The likes of concrete and stone that cannot be repurposed will be crushed to help level the site, and could even be used as a sub-base for a proposed car park the Trust is also seeking planning permission for.
“We are working up plans on the future of the overall site and we don’t have an exact use as yet,” the Trust added in its planning application.
“We are, however, planning on putting in a car park adjacent to the site, and from this we are hoping to open up nature walks to other areas of the estate, and eventually make use of the other remaining buildings on site for some visitor engagement/offer.”
It’s not known when East Devon District Council will decide the outcome of the application.
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