Derelict building near Chard Leisure Centre to remain

The leisure centre (which is run by Freedom Leisure) formed the centrepiece of South Somerset District Council's Chard regeneration scheme, opening its doors to the public on November 8, 2021.

One building within the former ACI complex off the A358 Silver Street - dubbed Building 11 - was retained during the construction, with the council originally hoping to re-purpose as part of plans to relocate the town’s library.

The leisure centre was delivered within the former ACI complex off the A358 Silver Street, near Boden Mill - a site which also contains the boarded-up 'Building 11', which remains fenced off to the public.

Following abortive attempts to relocate Chard's library into the building from its current base at Holyrood Lace Mill, the council withdrew plans to demolish Building 11 in March 2023.

Building 11 near Chard Leisure Centre, seen from the A358 Silver Street (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Somerset Council (which replaced the district council in April 2023) has confirmed that it is currently has no plans to demolish the building - meaning it will remain on Chard's landscape for the foreseeable future.

A spokesperson said: "We are the owners of Building 11, and the building is listed within the curtilage of Boden Mill, which is a listed building.

"We are not currently considering the demolition of Building 11, but we continue to review the strategy for the property alongside others within our portfolio to ensure that our estate is optimised."

The council has been selling off its 'non-operational assets' since the summer of 2024 as part of its ongoing work to balance its budget, having obtained central government permission to use the proceeds of these sales to fund day-to-day spending on front-line services.

Boden Mill was among the assets listed for disposal, along with the Boden Centre on Boden Street and a plot of land in the neighbouring village of Forton.

Both Boden Mill and Building 11 currently remain barricaded off from the public near the Silver Street entrance to the leisure centre.

Historic England had pushed for Building 11 to be retained as far back as December 2021, describing it as a “tangible reminder” of Chard’s involvement in the British lace industry.

Rhiannon Rhys, the organisation’s inspector of historic buildings and areas, stated at the time: "The continued loss and erosion of buildings on the Boden Mill site associated with this once-important process chips away at the history of the town and erodes its character and identity.

"Building 11 is a good example of an ancillary functional structure, and though presently disused, we consider it could well have a sustainable new use in the future."