Possible new charity forming to lease Burnham Overy Staithe windmill from the National Trust 🌍

Via the Minutes of a meeting of Burnham Overy Parish Council held on Monday 27th July 2026

Save Burnham Overy Windmill - Peter Nicholson from the National Trust attended the meeting (during his holiday) and gave an update on progress. A small group of interested individuals, including an architect, were forming a charity to take over the Windmill and seek funding. The charity would lease the Windmill from the National Trust (NT) and take responsibility for the asset. Peter confirmed that the NT would be able to long-term lease the Windmill to such an entity, but would not be able to sell the Windmill, as it would become a Community Asset. The use of humidifiers over the past year has helped the Windmill dry out. Once formed, the charity would seek seed funding for a feasibility study, followed by capital funding for restoration and ongoing maintenance. The Council confirmed that they will be in regular contact with the NT through Peter. Potential future uses for the Windmill include open days and studio space for artists and designers with any commission from art sales contributing to ongoing maintenance were also ideas for the future. The Parish Council would be kept informed as plans develop. Anyone interested in joining the group setting up the charity can obtain details from the NT.

There's an ambiguous sentence there, where Peter is confirming that the NT is not able to sell the windmill. I think the meaning is that "Since the mill will become a Community Asset, a long term lease can be arranged instead of a sale". (i.e this is not the alternative reading that the reason for not selling the windmill is that it would then become a Community Asset. NT is required to hold items placed in its care, in their words "for everyone, for ever"). This specifically appears to rule out providing a long term lease to someone who planned a private, not public future for the mill.

I have reached out to the NT to ask them for details about joining the group.