THE former Williton head office of Magna Housing Association has been sold to long-established local business White Lodge Veterinary Clinic.

St Peter’s House, in Bridge Street, was used as offices by the housing association but has been unoccupied since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Magna decided to market it for £285,000 with a brief to find a buyer to provide value to the local community.

Now, it has been bought by White Lodge Veterinary Clinic, which was established in West Somerset in the 1950s.

The veterinary practice moved to a purpose-built clinic in Stephenson Road, Minehead, in 1994, and has grown to include an equine and farm animal clinic serving West Somerset and parts of North Devon.

In 2010, it established a clinic in Williton, which now employs more than 30 people.

The move to St Peter’s House has the added benefit of freeing up two council-owned units for start-up businesses to rent.

Magna head of asset investment Carolyn Bill said: “As the main housing provider in Williton, we are committed to supporting the communities we serve.

“This opportunity will offer local people more access to services and create jobs.

“The income from the sale will be invested back into our services and homes.”

White Lodge directors Tom Gliddon and Paul Gannon both grew up in Williton and share a desire to contribute to the town by ensuring the infrastructure is in place to serve its growing community.

Mr Gliddon said: “Due to increased demand and looking to the future with extra housing planned for Williton and Watchet in particular, we required a larger building.

“The practice in Williton serves pet owners as far afield as Nether Stowey and Bishops Lydeard, as well as offering a convenient pick-up location for medicines for horse owners and farmers.

“St Peter’s House offers us the room we need now and for the foreseeable future.

“It will create extra, high-quality jobs in Williton as well as helping to reduce environmental impacts of journeys, as currently we have to offer appointments in Minehead to people who could be seen in Williton if we had the space.”