Bowyers factory site in Trowbridge put up for sale

Its owners, property developer Innox Mills Ltd, says it is seeking offers for the 9.96-acre site next to Trowbridge railway station.

Jonathan Dean, managing director of Innox Mills, said yesterday he will “let the market decide” the purchase price for the land.

Innox Mills is proposing to sell the site through up-market estate agents Knight Frank with planning permission for 255 new homes.

They are describing the site as an “outstanding residential development opportunity” in the centre of Wiltshire’s county town.

How the site could look under new plans. Photo: Keep Architecture (Image: Keep Architecture)

Innox Mills gained outline planning permission from Wiltshire Council last year for 243 open market homes, and full planning consent for a further 12 open market homes.

The current proposal vision is to build the new homes through a mix of four-storey townhouses and flats contained within four blocks each four or five storeys high.

The scheme also included a convenience store, associated access, public realm improvements and landscaping.

The full planning consent also included 3,073 square metres of commercial floorspace, landscaping, access and public realm improvements.

Mr Dean said Innox Mills plans to retain the commercial and listed building elements of the scheme.

How the site could look under new plans. Photo: Keep Architecture (Image: Keep Architecture)

The brownfield industrial site sits on four plateaus that have been formed by the historic development with a six-metre change in levels from the southern boundary to the northern edge.

But Innox Mills and Knight Frank say in their brochure: “There is potential for build to rent and build to sell development. The site levels provide suitable development plots and minimise the need for ‘cut and fill’.”

Offers are sought on an unconditional basis by 12 noon on Thursday, April 4, and Innox Mills says it will consider “other forms of agreement”, with potential buyers,  including joint ventures.

The former Bowyers site in Trowbridge (Image: Newsquest)

The site is strategically located next to Trowbridge railway station, which provides 64 trains running daily to Bath Spa station.

They provide connections to Bristol, Swindon, Cardiff, and London Paddington, as well as other major towns and cities across the country.

The land was originally the site of a former woollen mill with the remaining buildings in the eastern corner dating back to the 1800s. Two of these are Grade II listed with the others being non-designated heritage assets.

The site was used for the large Bowyers meat processing factory complex that was later demolished. Most of the site has lain unused since 2008.