PLANS for a massive redevelopment involving up to 400 homes, a residential care village, small business units and a serviced apartment hotel were revealed this week for Watchet’s derelict paper mill site.

There are also plans to run a new river feature through the site.

After three years of rumour and uncertainty since the mill closed its doors as Watchet’s major employer, new owners Tameer Homes – part of the international Tameer Group – have unveiled plans to transform the 41-acre site into a residential, business and leisure centre.

The proposals include a landscaping scheme, new river, wildlife corridors and a water-wheel turbine visitor centre.

There are also plans for a 220-bed residential care village and developments of two, three and five-storey houses and flats.

Residents will be able to see plans for the proposed new development at a public exhibition and consultation to be held at the Sanctuary in Swain Street on Friday, April 26 from 2pm to 8pm and Saturday April 28 from 11am to 5pm.

Following this, Tameer Homes will be looking to submit an outline planning application to Somerset West and Taunton Council in early summer.

A Watchet Town Council spokesman said that the authority’s planning committee would be making recommendations on the scheme to the district council after councillors had seen the details.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

In the meantime, there is a full report in today’s Free Press.