Hope of new jobs with regeneration plans by Buckfast Abbey

Plans are being drawn up to regenerate the Axminster Carpets’ spinning mill at Buckfast, just weeks after it closed with the loss of more than 100 jobs.

The ambitious project has been undertaken by The Buckfast Abbey Trust which bought the 9.24 acre site from administrators at the end of March.

Consultants have been appointed to help develop the masterplan which will be discussed with local residents.

Although the area closest to the Abbey will be enhanced, it is envisaged that much of the large building erected in the late 1980’s will eventually be occupied by businesses, creating new jobs.  Some of the older buildings are unlikely to be kept as they are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable.

Father James Courtney, the Abbey’s Bursar, said: “Our local community plays a big part in our lives and we support it as much as can.

“Our plans are only in their initial stages and although we cannot take on running new businesses ourselves we are keen to regenerate the site, bringing in new employers, in the hope of generating a significant number of jobs in the area.

“We have already had a number of meetings with bodies including Heart of the South West  Local Enterprise Partnership, Dartmoor National Park Authority and Teignbridge District  and Devon County Councils and these discussions will continue and develop along with the plans.

“Development can’t be undertaken straight away as the administrators of the Carpet Group are still in occupation but the initial planning has started and we’re very excited about that.”

The Trust will also be discussing its plans with Buckfastleigh Town Council and local residents.

* Axminster Carpets Limited, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Axminster, Wilton and Tufted carpet, was forced to enter administration in March 2013 but was sold as a going concern last month. However, the spinning mill was closed leading to the loss of 125 jobs.