Historic flour mill retains grant

A run-down, earthquake-damaged historic flour mill in Addington could soon be redeveloped.

Earlier plans to develop the 129-yearold former Wood Brother’s flour mill building have fallen through but new owners are proposing to take over the project.

The Christchurch City Council’s communities, housing and economic development committee has agreed to pass a $900,000 heritage incentive grant to the new owners. The grant was originally allocated by the council in 2012.

The new buyer, Woods Mill Investments Ltd, has until October 22, 2016 to spend the money.

Council heritage team leader Brendan Smyth said he had been dealing with the new owners and they were committed to the project.

They planned to take over the complex project of repairing, strengthening and adapting the buildings for residential and commercial use, he said.

The buyers had a good understanding of the building and expected to spend between $8 million and $9m on conservation works including code compliance and maintenance. A separate $500,000 grant would also be provided to the new buyers by the Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Fund Trust.

The building had massive brick walls and substantial timber stuctures designed to take huge loads. It was designed to withstand substantial vibration during the milling process.

‘‘These two factors seem to have enabled them to survive the series of earthquakes without irreparable damage,’’ Smyth said.

Existing owner John Cameron, of Plains Developments Ltd, said a sale was pending to Woods Mill Investments and was expected to be finalised on August 14. He has owned the complex since 2002 and bought the building with plans to develop it, but had since decided it was too risky for him.

A sale to property developer Richmond Paynter and businessman Shaun Johnston did not go ahead, but he was confident a sale would proceed this time.

He would not name the people behind the new company, but said they were a group of Christchurch developers.