The regeneration of Wellington’s historic Tonedale Mill could be delayed as Somerset Council contemplates asking the government for an extension.

The council secured nearly £20m in November 2023 in the third and final round of the levelling up fund to be spent on regenerating the site and the neighbouring Tone Works location on the northern edge of Wellington.

But it has now confirmed it may seek an extension, allowing it to spend the funding beyond the current deadline of late March 2026, amid other priorities such as the Firepool site in Taunton.

READ MORE: Firepool, Taunton: Work advances on £13million regeneration | Somerset County Gazette

A bit of history

Tonedale Mill and Tone Works were once the centre of Fox Brothers & Co. Ltd., one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of woollen and worsted garments in the southwest.

The mill almost entirely closed in the 1980s, though a small amount of production continues on part of the site, with a handful of small businesses being based nearby.

Tone Works, which closed its doors in 2000, has received around £1m of government funding to decontaminate the land and prevent the existing structures from falling into disrepair.

The two sites are surrounded by green space, with Fox’s Field off Burchills Lane being in public ownership since 2021.

Securing both sites

The council will use the £19,987,663 levelling up grant to secure both sites, preserving the existing fabric of the buildings and preparing the ground for new commercial occupants, along with some residential and cultural elements.

The council said it was not able to confirm how much of the levelling up grant had been spent to date – but did confirm that negotiations to purchase the Tonedale Mill site were still ongoing.

“We continue negotiations with the landowner at Tonedale Mill, and no date has yet been set for acquisition," said a council spokesman. “Work also progresses to acquire additional land at Tone Works, negotiating with the landowner."

Once the council has completed its regeneration work, any future redevelopment of either side – whether for residential, commercial or leisure purposes – will be taken forward by a third party.

A spokesman said: “The scope of works under the levelling up programme does not require planning applications or public consultation."