Martin Bundy has lived in and around Ross all his life and he had often looked at a derelict building in Copse Cross Street thinking it would make wonderful homes if it was converted.

Martin, a property developer, was able to put his plans into action when he purchased the Old Mill in August 2008. He decided that he wanted the conversion to retain the character of the old building while providing homes of a quality that he would be happy to live in himself.

And with the help of M & D Builders he was able to achieve this and all the apartments are now occupied.

The building was empty when Martin took it over but it is thought to be one of the oldest industrial buildings in Ross. It was a wool stapler for many years then was used as a mill for the South Hereford Agricultural Co-operative Society. In the past it was also used for several separate businesses but it was mainly used as warehousing which meant there was lots of open space to use.

The development was a joint project for Martin with the Marches Housing Association and Herefordshire Council as part of a Temporary Social Housing Scheme. He put up half of the cost of renovation and the other half came from grant funding from the council.

The building was converted into eight apartments for social housing and they are all currently let on an assured short tenancy.

TSH schemes benefit the owner because their property increases in value and they gain a monthly income from the rent, the Housing Association gains more stock and the council benefits by bringing an empty property back into use.

Martin employed building firm M & D Builders and they worked on the project for the best part of a year. Martin said it made a big difference to have the same team from planning, though the execution to the finish and it meant that the standard of work was a very high quality.

Derek Preece, of M & D Builders said that the most difficult part of the job was replacing so much stonework. He said that a lot of the stones were rotten and Martin added that they had stepped in just in time. He said: "If the building had been allowed to decay any further it might not have been possible to save it."

"Now," he said, "the building should stand for another 500 years."

Derek said: "When I first saw the building I wondered what on earth we had taken on but all the hard work has been worthwhile, it is very satisfying to know we have completed such a marvellous restoration."

The work was finished in October 2009 and there was a celebration opening when local families and Councillors were invited to see inside.

Councillor Gordon Lucas told The Ross Gazette: "I think the Bundy family have done a fantastic job and they deserve to be congratulated."