The unfinished houses at Freshford Mill will finally now be finished, after the development was bought by a firm with local links.

Work there stopped several years ago when the previous developer, Ypres Rose Developments Ltd, went into administration. The 4.77-acre site has now been bought by Environ Communities, which is led by Turleigh man Tony Dowse.

The news has been welcomed by the parish council, as the vacant area attracted squatters, vandalism and a rave attended by about 300 people. Nick Stevens, chairman of Freshford Parish Council, said: “The council is delighted that the Mill has been purchased by Environ and that for the first time in years the opportunity now exists for the development to be both improved and then completed.

“We look forward to working alongside Environ and wholly support the wish of the company to work in close collaboration with local residents.

“In this way we are all able to contribute to the process and it should go a long way towards ensuring that the finished development quickly becomes an integral part of the village and one of which we can all be proud.”

The mill buildings, which were used by Peradin for manufacturing, have still be converted or replaced by 21 homes, which will have between two to five bedrooms.

The remaining historic buildings will be renovated and brought back to their former glory, while the newer houses started by Ypres Rose will be re-modelled and re-styled.

Mr Dowse said: “We intend to turn this eyesore into a scheme that locals can feel proud of.

“The existing scheme as built is disappointing and out of character with its setting and our architects will be introducing significant changes to the buildings as well as comprehensive landscaping proposals”.

Local people will be able to walk along the river on the remainder of the site and be able to enjoy the proposed wildlife area around the pond.

Environ’s next step is a meeting with the BANES highways authority in order to implement traffic calming around the mill, as suggested in the recent Neighbourhood Plan.