Accountants Old Mill are closing their Shepton Mallet office, where the firm was founded more than 80 years ago, to move to a new carbon-friendly building six miles away in Wells.
Work has already started on the 18,000 sq ft office on Cathedral Park which will be powered by photovoltaic panels, heated and cooled by an air source heat pump, with a heat recovery system and lit with low-energy lighting.
Most of the staff now working in Shepton Mallet, a former 19th century mill, will move to the new office when it opens next March.
The firm’s senior partner Mike Butler, who heads the team working on the new office project, said: “We really have outgrown the Shepton office and although we had hoped to stay in the town, after more than six years of searching we couldn’t find anything suitable.”
Mr Butler said although it will be sad to leave Shepton, the move brings many new opportunities.
“Shepton has been at the very heart of our business since it was founded in the 1930s and we will be retaining strong links in the town,” he added. “But by moving to a new site we are able to develop something that is just right for our firm’s current needs.”
Old Mill bought the site from Cathedral Park developer Nikal and the Church Commission.
Mr Butler, who is working closely with Peter White of Charter Land and Estates on the project, said they chose to the 17-acre Cathedral Park development because, once completed, it will be one of the region’s key business destinations.
“Cathedral Park is going to be a real business hub in the area and we are obviously keen to be a part of that. Plus, it is set in a wonderful rural location and utilises green and sustainable building solutions,” he said.
“Creating a carbon-friendly building was important to us. As well as solar panels and the heat pump, the interior of the building is low consumption with low-energy lighting.” There will also be three charging points for clients visiting with electric cars.
Old Mill is to occupy the first floor of the two-storey office building and is seeking tenants for the ground floor.
“We want partners to come and join us in our new office to share the benefits of a really great up to date work space,” said Mr Butler.
Old Mill joins existing occupier Aster Communities at Cathedral Park. Aster (formerly Flourish Homes) moved into its purpose-built 20,000 sq ft two-storey office last summer.
Old Mill is one of the West Country’s fastest growing accountancy firms. Originally based in Shepton Mallet and Yeovil, over the past six years it has doubled in size, opened offices in Exeter, Melksham and Dorchester and increased staffing to more than 250 people.
It is working with a number of other established local firms on the new building project including Bruce Scobie of Wells-based solicitors Chubb Bullied, and architects Boon Brown and builders Mike Lock Construction, both from Yeovil.
