Buyers are being sought for the former Intier site in the heart of Bitton, which has been identified for new housing development.
Following years of deadlock over the future redevelopment prospects of the site, the Canadian owners have now decided to sell it to a developer or housebuilder. The factory complex, which is located on Bath Road, manufactured automotive parts until its closure in 2006.
The 17.6 acre site is now being marketed by Colliers International who are seeking developers to demolish most of the buildings and replace them with a high quality housing scheme.
Colliers International development consultant Louise Seaman said Canadian owners the Stronach Group’s decision to dispose of the property was due to the failure to make any real progress with South Gloucestershire Council on resolving various planning issues.
Louise Seaman said: “The owners had previously drawn up detailed plans for 128 new homes and a 60-bed care home on the site but this did not progress to a planning application.”
The former factory site is split into two main parts, the Golden Valley Paper Mill to the north of Mill Lane and a foundry site on the Bath Road frontage.
The property being offered for sale also covers an area of woodland to the north which includes two ponds. A number of historic buildings exist on the factory site, including the gatehouse and former canteen that have been previously identified for conversion by its existing Canadian owners.
Louise Seaman said: “The factory closed in 2006 and many of the buildings have substantially deteriorated since then.
A successful development of the site would end years of uncertainty for people in the village. Apart from removing an eyesore on the landscape, redevelopment of the site would provide a means to clean up the widespread contamination on the site and remove flood risks for the village.
“Given this brownfield site will be expensive to develop, it will only be delivered if the council adopts a pragmatic and realistic approach recognising that retention of certain buildings may not be economically viable or an appropriate long term solution.”
South Gloucestershire Council issued its own Draft Concept Statement for the site for public consultation purposes on July 9. Comments are invited by August 3.
Louise concluded: “Whilst it would have been good to have received the council’s position statement on the site a long time ago, the document is generally helpful in confirming the council’s support for residential uses, which will assist prospective purchasers in formulating proposals”.
The sale is by informal tender with offers invited for the freehold interest by on Friday July 20. Colliers International hope that the site will be sold by the end of the year.
