MPs Stephen Crabb and Simon Hart, together with AMs Paul Davies and Angela Burns have all made clear their support of Bluestone’s plans for the regeneration of Blackpool Mill.

Stephen Crabb MP said: “The restoration of Black Pool Mill would be hugely beneficial to the local economy. The employment and tourism opportunities it will offer are vitally important to this area.”

The multi-million pound development of the mill will mean that 80 jobs in total will be created and there will also be opportunities for local suppliers meaning the overall economic benefit will be £32m over a 10 year period.

William McNamara OBE, chief executive of Bluestone, said: “This is an important step for the future of Black Pool Mill. With over 90 years left to run on the mill’s lease what we are offering is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reopen the mill to the general public and save this landmark historic building and its industrial heritage. Without Bluestone’s intervention, it will remain closed off and un-loved. In order for the project to be successful, the mill needs to be attractive to the tourism market and viable as a sustainable business. That is why we have drawn on its past as much as we possibly can; the essential role of the mill in its Victorian heyday as a conduit for local industrial activity cannot be underestimated.”

As well as the mill building itself and the rare surviving machinery inside, there will be a new all-weather events barn in the field next to the mill and a narrow gauge steam railway to convey visitors around the site. This replicates the mill’s industrial past, when timber from the woods at Minwear was transported from the steam powered saw mill - located in the field next to the mill - and loaded onto a light railway running across the field to the River Cleddau.

The planning application for the regeneration of Black Pool Mill will be decided by the National Park’s development committee on May 10.