A bid to turn a redundant mortuary into a new almshouse in Wells has been pulled – five years after it was first submitted.

The listed building consent application for Bubwiths Almshouses on Priest Row, lodged in September 2020, proposed turning the old mortuary into a one-bedroom home for an elderly resident.

But on Tuesday, 5 November 2025, officials confirmed the scheme had been withdrawn and would go no further.

The proposal aimed to provide new housing for older people by converting a disused outbuilding within the Grade II* listed complex. Developers had worked with Mendip's conservation team to create a sensitive design using traditional materials, with a plan to upgrade the roof and reinstate historic features.

Planning papers said the building was "redundant" and the scheme would "enhance the setting of all heritage assets that are affected." It would also, they argued, help meet local demand for housing for older residents.

But the application has now been shelved. No formal reason for the withdrawal has been published, and the future of the building remains unclear.

The Bubwiths Almshouses date back to 1436, with later additions in the 17th and 19th centuries. They sit next to the churchyard of St Cuthbert's and are among the most historically significant buildings in Wells.

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Tags: wells news, bubwiths almshouses, planning, listed buildings, priest row