AFTER years of neglect and decay, the future of the Grade II listed Town Mills complex on the corner of Clifford Street and Mill Stream Meadow in Chudleigh is looking much brighter.

Local builder and developer Chris Cox, who bought the premises from Cavanna Homes last year, has submitted a planning application to Teignbridge Council for the conversion of the old Wheel Craft Centre to seven homes.

Mr Cox said that he was working closely with Graham Lawrence, the council's listed buildings' expert, on the plans and drawings for the dwellings and intended to keep all the site's historic features.

The mill itself is to become a four-bedroom open-plan home, keeping the water wheel and workings behind a glass partition. The neighbouring building on the Clifford Street frontage, formerly the Wheel Restaurant, will be refurbished with four bedrooms.

The main building to the rear, previously used to house the Wheel Craft Centre, will become another four-bedroom dwelling, and two outbuildings are to be turned into single-storey homes.

The development will be completed by the construction of two new three-bedroomed houses in the garden.

'I love old buildings and I'm a believer in keeping our heritage,' said Mr Cox. 'The mill complex has not been viable as a commercial operation, but if it is sold as homes, at least the residents will look after it.

'We want to make it right and we'll be using reclaimed materials to make it look good.'

Mr Cox said that no work would begin until planning permission had been granted. He has also been able to settle most of the worries of the Chudleigh History Group, which has taken a close interest in the fate of the mill.

Chairman Alan Brunton has welcomed the plans, but expressed concern on three issues: will the wheel be renovated? Will the leat – currently blocked – be free flowing to allow the wheel to work properly and to stop it rotting? Will the public be allowed access to the mill to view the workings?

Mr Cox confirmed that the wheel will be renovated and that he had bought the mill leat from Cavanna Homes. He planned to unblock it to ensure a supply of running water to keep the wheel turning.

'The leat is the responsibility of the mill owner and its effective maintenance would be a condition attached to the property,' he said. 'The listed-building people would insist on that.'

However, Mr Cox would not comment on the issue of public access to the mill wheel or its workings, but pointed out that the wheel was visible from Mill Stream Meadow.

Last week, Chudleigh Parish Council recommended that Mr Cox's plans be approved by Teignbridge Council, subject to certain conditions. The chairman, Cllr Steve Evans, said that Mr Cox had carried out other sympathetic restorations in the town.