In the Heart of Bestwood Village
F A Q 's
Who do I contact with questions about the proposed development?
Please feel free to submit queries, suggestions or feedback using the form below, and we will aim to respond to you directly within 48 hours. Naturally, once the full planning application has been submitted to Ashfield District Council, members of the public will be able to fully scrutinise and engage with the submission and the planning process.
What is the timeframe for the Forge Mill Development?
We will submit a full planning application mid-late summer, depending on how long Ashfield Council take with the pre-planning application (submitted mid-late May). If granted, work could begin as soon as this December but will more likely be in Spring 2026.
How soon will the Forge Mill Coffee Shop open?
We are not sure yet, the best estimate is mid-late 2026 unless we can find a workable and sustainable way to open before the rest of the development is completed. A business plan is currently being written to ensure that this business runs in a sustainable fashion, with input and oversight from consultants who have decades of experience in hospitality and catering.
How will the development benefit the local community?
In multiple ways: a homely and high quality coffee house in the heart of the village, function facilities available on site, employment opportunities, creative workshops, classes and hobbyist activities, both indoors and in the garden area, open to everyone, thus reigniting and preserving the diverse, creative and industrious heritage of this historical site. For more information see the 'Vision' page.
Who is heading up the Forge Mill Development?
The Creative Director, Phil Bryon, will be living on-site, overseeing the overall concept and development. He will also be running creative enterprises and has a highly professional and experienced team supporting him.
How many people will live at Forge Mill?
This planning application allows for a maximum of only six residents in the main dwelling (classification C3), plus an additional individual in the fully-accessible self-contained space on the ground floor, designed to accommodate a wheelchair user.
If Forge Mill is granted residential status, what is to stop it being converted into an HMO or a supported living unit in the future, for prison-leavers, for example?
This planning application will have a clause preventing any such development or changes happening in the future
What is to stop the landlord taking over the property to do something different with it?
The owner of Forge Mill has agreed to a 99 year lease. In addition, the criteria mentioned above, specifying quite rigidly how the residential aspect of the mill can be used, are not dependent on the lease or the length of its term, they are intrinsically linked to the property itself.