A factory site in Crewkerne which has been vacant since 2004 will be converted into town houses, loft apartments and office space as part of a £10-million project.
The grade two listed former Bonsoir of London nightwear factory on Abbey Street was bought by property developer Sequoia on Friday.
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BIG PROJECT: Jason Mills, managing director of development company Sequoia, outside the former Bonsoir factory buildings in Crewkerne, which will be converted into upmarket housing and offices as part of a £10 million investment
The site, which once employed 400 people, comprises four buildings, made up of two large factory buildings, a large office and a derelict Edwardian workhouse.
It will be rebranded as Tailor’s Yard and work is due to begin this week.
Jason Mills, managing director of Sequoia, said: “Crewkerne is an improving town, there have been lots of new developments in recent years including Waitrose and we want to play our part.
“I think it’s all positive, this development contributes towards the regeneration and improvement of the town, a project of this scale will employ a lot of people locally and use local materials.
“It will have a positive impact on the local economy.”
Mayor of Crewkerne Neil Sturtivant said: “It is a lovely building and it’s a shame it’s been vacant for considerable time, I think it would be very good for the area to have it regenerated.
“A lot of politicians will go on about how things are grim at the moment but if you look around there’s some good things going on. I think Crewkerne is bucking the trend to some extent in that we are continuing to get investment going on around here, whereas other places are not.
“Over the past 15 years the town council has put a lot of money and thought into how to develop Crewkerne into a place to live, in terms of the facilities we have.
“It’s great that the town continues to expand with the developments like Maiden Beech and CLR, while the inner part of the town continues to remain vibrant.”
It is estimated the complete redevelopment of Bonsoir will take two years to finish, but the first phase of two and three-bedroom loft apartments and some office space, available to local companies, will be completed within six months.
Mr Mills said: “Sequoia as a business focuses on old buildings and their redevelopment, we are always looking for old buildings. Bonsoir is a great example of the type of place we are interested in.
“When we first viewed it six months ago we fell in love with it – it is a local landmark.
“It ticks all the boxes, it’s in a super part of Crewkerne in the middle of Abbey Street.
“The frontage of the site is massive, it takes up a large part of Abbey Street and redeveloping it will have a positive effect on the area.”
The buildings have full planning and listed building approval from South Somerset District Council to be converted.
Mr Mills said: “We are really excited by this new project and are proud to be increasing our investment in the local economy.
“Bonsoir and their advisers worked hard over a number of years to secure planning approval for its redevelopment.
“Sequoia is now picking up the baton and injecting a little pace into the sensitive transformation.”
Sequoia has also recently completed the £1-million restoration of a vacant and dilapidated former Victorian co-operative bakery in Yeovil called Bakehouse Mews.