The historic dye works and laundry factory in the vibrant Bristol neighbourhood of St. Werburghs is being transformed into contemporary new homes with the launch of Brooks Dye Works at the end of this month. Developed by Galliard Homes and Acorn Property Group, the former dye works is undergoing extensive regeneration to offer two, three, and four-bedroom homes, open space and improved access to the neighbouring park. The first release of homes are now available to reserve and properties will be ready to move into in Spring 2021.

Brooks Dye Works is the £40 million (GDV) redevelopment of a historic dye and laundry works, a Victorian family-owned factory that ran for 135 years. The four-acre industrial site had lain derelict for over a decade since the factory closed in 1997. The joint venture developer partners are now breathing new life into the site. Brooks Dye Works is centred around the factory’s iconic nineteenth-century chimney and offers 79 homes, each with a private balcony or terrace, green open space and direct access to the adjacent Mina Road Park.

Originally founded in 1862 by Alfred Brooks with records of a dye works in Bristol as early as 1819, the ‘Brooks Dyers and Cleaners’ factory offered services including dyeing clothes for mourning and recolouring faded items. During the Second World War, the factory expanded its services to clean the linen for the military, serving the American soldiers at the nearby Frenchay hospital and hospital ships that docked in Avonmouth. Following the war, the factory offered dry cleaning services, growing in popularity to eventually service 18 shops in the Bristol region. The family-run business ran successfully until the founder’s great-great-grandson Simon Brooks retired in 1997.

Galliard Homes and Acorn Property Group have transformed the site since construction began last year, with the new contemporary homes drawing inspiration from the site’s industrial heritage. There will be a mixture of two-bedroom houses, three-bedroom over garage duplexes, and three and four-bedroom houses set amongst landscaped gardens.

The homes will have open-plan living with a flexible design and a high-quality specification, and each home will have allocated parking or a private garage, with further visitor parking available. For buyers who reserve their property early, there is the opportunity to tailor aspects of their new home, including the kitchen units, choice of floor covering and tile colour. Designer built-in kitchens will be by Magnet and come with integrated appliances from leading luxury appliance manufacturer Smeg. The new homes use renewable timber frame construction, and sustainable features include smart meters, a sustainable drainage system, double-glazed argon gas-filled windows to maximise each home’s insulation, secure cycle storage, and electric charging points to some homes.

The construction is being led by Halsall Construction Ltd, a regional specialist, with the retention of the original dye works’ chimney a core element and focal point of the new scheme, which will connect to the adjacent Mina Road Park, improving access to the park which is popular with local families year-round. There will also be 24 affordable homes on the site, a mixture of intermediate rent and shared ownership.

The Brooks Dye Works marketing suite will open on-site later this Spring, with both Galliard & Acorn already reporting a high level of interest in the scheme. The joint venture partnership has a strong record of working together on historic sites to deliver new homes with preserved heritage, including local sites Hope House, a Grade II Listed mansion in Bath, and Brandon Yard, a former Victorian gasworks on Bristol Harbourside.

Brooks Dye Works is located in St. Werburghs, a vibrant district of Bristol, just 1.5 miles from the city centre. St. Werburghs offers independent restaurants, organic eateries, boutique shops and a lively urban art scene within walking distance of the development.

David Galman, Sales Director at Galliard Homes commented: “Brooks Dye Works is the thoughtful reimagination of a historic dyeworks, set to bring sought-after contemporary homes to the area. Bristol’s property market is in particular need of well-designed houses given the prominence of flats in the area. Galliard Homes and Acorn Property Group are working closely together to ensure the new homes offer high-quality design inspired by the site’s original heritage. We anticipate the site to prove very popular with local buyers.”

Robin Squire, Regional Managing Director at Acorn Property Group’s Bristol Office commented: “The original dyeworks factory on the site of Brooks Dye Works was a successful family-run business spanning 135 years, and it is a delight to see the site brought back to life by the new development. For buyers interested in purchasing a home at Brooks Dye Works, the first release of homes is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the lifestyle on offer. The opening of the marketing suite is highly-anticipated and we look forward to it opening in the near future.”

Melanie Fernandes, New Homes Manager at Ocean estate agents commented: “Brooks Dye Works is set to rejuvenate the area of St Werburghs, bringing high-quality homes and new life to the area. In recent years Bristol has seen a wealth of new developments offering apartments, but little to address the demand for larger properties: even the traditional houses in St Werburghs, that tend to be ‘two up-two down’, don’t quite meet family requirements and there is now a real need amongst locals, something that Brooks Dye Works will help address.

“The launch of the Brooks Dye Works marketing suite is highly-anticipated, a lot of people have already registered their interest, and we would encourage any prospective buyers to contact us to learn more about the quality new homes and lifestyle on offer.”

At Brooks Dye Works, first release prices for a three-bedroom duplex with garage start from £375,000, with three-bedroom houses from £435,000, and four-bedroom houses from £485,000. Full details of the development, specification and floor plans for first release properties are available online, with local instructed agent Ocean working remotely and ready to receive calls from interested parties. Selected properties are available to purchase with a 5% deposit through the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme.

View our latest availability here.