“Contemporary in design and layout, with detailing and material references to the site’s commercial and industrial heritage,” the properties will spring up behind the former printworks’ 1890s colonnaded facade following the start of construction earlier this year.
“The retained facade is a very well-known landmark in Bath, and will form a protective northern edge of the development,” said Hunter Harling, head of residential development sales in Bath at Savills, who told Printweek that behind the facade would be a “tranquil mix” of new flats and houses with roof gardens, communal courtyards and balconies.
“We’ve had a lot of interest in both the apartments and townhouses. We are in early days in the build, however, so we expect sales to ramp up as we move towards completion.”
Townhouses cost from £925,000-£975,000.
The 2.1 hectare site was originally home to Pitman's Phonetic Institute established in 1889, and then the Pitman Press printing works led by Sir Isaac Pitman, who also developed one of the world’s most widely-used methods of shorthand. It later became the Bath Press, which was the biggest employer in the city back in the day.
CPI Group acquired Bath Press in 1999. In 2000 it announced plans to move Bath Press to a new greenfield site, but the plans were deferred. By 2007 the Bath Press business was in trouble, and CPI announced it would shut the loss-making colour book printworks with the loss of around 200 jobs, blaming competition from low-cost markets in the Far East and Eastern Europe.
The site was acquired by City and Country in 2024 for immediate redevelopment.
The developers have taken inspiration from its book printing past, with names for the different units including Cover House, Chapter House, The Edition, The Finishers, and Inkwell Court.
Simon Marner, City & Country’s land & property director, said the “thriving” World Heritage Site city of Bath would be an excellent fit for the development.
“We have ambitious plans for the next five years as a business, as we continue expanding our new build arm and restoring heritage buildings to provide beautiful, modern high-specification homes.
“As with all our new build homes, we pride ourselves in the quality of our design and the creation of community. Placemaking is at the heart of everything we do, and this site will be no different.”
