A SCHEME to turn the failed Washford Mill shopping complex into a development of 25 homes was finally unveiled this week. Concern about the site's commercial future was revealed in the Free Press last July when owners Badcock and Everard Ltd - now trading as J. Pickard and Co - hinted they were considering turning it into housing. The company won £600,000 of European and Government grant aid in 1999 towards the £1.2 million cost of converting the mill buildings on the 16th century site in Abbey Road. The flagship project, housing 15 business units, was opened by the Princess Royal five years ago but the last of the tenants moved out at the end of March this year, leaving only the owners' agricultural supplies outlet operating. Now Badcock and Everard has applied to West Somerset Council for a change of use for the site from commercial and retail to residential, claiming the shopping outlet is not viable. Instead, it hopes to win the go ahead to demolish the warehouse, atrium and link block to the mill building to construct four new-build 'live and work' units and six new-build affordable homes. The original mill building would be converted to 15 houses. A total of 32 car parking spaces would be provided for the development and a new pedestrian footpath created linking the development with the A39 Williton to Minehead road. In addition, a parcel of adjacent land to the west of the site would be 'gifted' for recreational facilities. In an application statement, planning agents for Badcock and Everard revealed that the company had accrued losses of almost £700,000 to June last year and was facing a further £32,000 from unpaid rents and tenant bankruptcies. While initial interest in the complex was high, the site was only fully occupied as a result of the presence of the owners' outlet. During 2005 the attraction of the complex to the public declined and several units failed to survive, including the restaurant. "The remaining tenants, some of who progressed from smaller to larger units, found it impossible to remain open due to the decline in business and the number of visitors." Despite offering six-month tenancies, as opposed to the previous several year agreements, it was still impossible to attract sufficient interest to fill the vacant units. Letting agents Humberts believed the venture lacked a high profile anchor tenant and blamed its difficult location between Williton and Minehead for the failure to generate sufficient 'footfall.' Attempts to market the complex for office or other alternative uses also failed. "It is clear therefore that the enterprise is at an end and that the mill has no future as a commercial outlet," said the statement. "The owners need to secure the best possible return on their investment and to recoup their substantial losses and they view conversion to residential use as the best option to minimise their overall loss on the project. "The only alternative is to do nothing, to abandon the premises and to let the mill deteriorate into dereliction and decay, which would be to the detriment of its surroundings, in particular the historic Cleeve Abbey - a Scheduled Ancient Monument."