One man from Colyton is taking on the challenge of refurbishing a derelict mill in Honiton.

David Rhodes, from Colyton, bought the Old Mill, in Mill Street, Honiton, before the pandemic, not knowing what was in store until he put the keys in the lock.

The listed building dates back hundreds of years and was used as a mill, producing flour until 1968 – when there was a big flood that damaged the mechanism working the mill wheel.

It was then converted into a residential home around 1980, before it became empty around 2008 and has slowly fallen into a state of disrepair.

Mr Rhodes has breathed new life into five buildings across the South West in the past 12 years, using a low-interest loan from EDDC’s and Lendology – which allows people to borrow funds for home improvements and adaptions, renovating empty properties and improving energy efficiency.

In the last year, the Old Mill has been given a new roof, had stonework repaired and had the entrance changed, pathing the way so passers-by will soon be able to enjoy seeing the historic mill wheel – which is set to have special repair works.

Once completed, the property will be a three-bed house, as it was in 1980.

Mr Rhodes said: “I have been a builder for 25 years and have been renovating empty properties for the past 12 years. I really enjoy the variety the work offers, not only the building work, but the planning and legal side of things. I was a landscape architect for five years – so these types of projects allow me to bring all my skills together.

“There is a lot of unknown with historic and listed buildings that can make them really hard to deal with, which keeps developers away. No one really wants to touch them. There can be a lot of loopholes to jump through.

“I like to make all the properties I work on as sustainable as possible, future proofing where I can with solar panels and heat source pumps – coming away from gas.

"I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing I am bringing them back to life."