Posted 17 November 2020 by
Keith OsborneFollowing the successful launch of The Old Printworks in Frome last month, developer Acorn Property Group has opened show homes and a marketing suite there, with virtual tours available.
Housebuilder Acorn Property Group is working in conjunction with property investment and development group, London & County, on the £45 million (GDV) development which is set to bring 157 homes to the popular Somerset town of Frome, with the first homes ready this Winter 2020. There will be a whole range of home types, incorporating a mix of two-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom houses, a two-bedroom coach house, and three- and four-bedroom houses, set amongst 1.5 acres of green space with a new pathway down to the riverbanks.
It is all located on the site of the former Butler, Tanner and Dennis printing press, which printed the first Penguin books in 1935, and the colourful show homes recall the iconic primary colours of Penguin paperbacks. They have been designed by SJP Interior Design of Bristol and carefully accessorised with wonderful items sourced from many independent, local Frome shops which further showcases the town’s creativity.
The two-bedroom show home uses a bright colour palette throughout, designed to appeal to young couples or professionals who want to buy their first home. There is a feature wall with a vibrant painting in the open-plan kitchen and living area, inspired by Frome’s strong artist community, with the burnt orange armchair, blue sofa and pops of mustard yellow recalling the primary colours of Penguin book covers.
The three-bedroom show home uses calm colours of taupe, off-white and pale grey and a mixture of textures to create a sophisticated home. Demonstrating the flexible design, one of the bedrooms has been styled as a work from home office, with a desk and bespoke shelving, with a sofa bed and discrete wardrobe easily transforming this room into a guest bedroom if needed.
Sarah Bailey of SJP Interior Design commented: “In the two-bedroom show home we focused on bright colours which draw visual parallels with the original Penguin book covers, linking back to the site’s history as a former printing press. In the three-bedroom show home, we created a flexible guest bedroom styled as a home study. With so many people working from home, many want an elegant space that is practical for work but also won’t look like a guest bedroom in the background of video calls.”
Every home has been designed using timber frame construction and eco stock bricks, with triple glazing for insulation, energy-saving appliances and lighting throughout and sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDs). There are communal electric charging points in the car park and many of the houses are electric car charging and solar panel ready to aid future installation. To support local ecology, there will be 12 bat houses, 10 bird boxes and specialist bee bricks across the build.
The high-quality specification and design of the homes includes a contemporary kitchen by Stormer, fully integrated appliances, Caesarstone worktops and sleek bathrooms with porcelain floor and wall tiling. For buyers who reserve their property early, there is the opportunity to tailor aspects of their new home, including the kitchen units and tile colour (subject to construction stage). For working from home, there is an Openreach fibre-optic broadband connection available.
Robin Squire, regional managing director of Acorn’s Bristol office, said: “The Old Printworks is a very exciting development and it is a delight to unveil the first show homes which bring the scheme to life. With only one property remaining in the first phase which benefits from the government Stamp Duty holiday, we urge interested buyers to speak to our sales team to ensure they do not miss out.”
Simon Blair, managing director of London & County, remarked: “Our new show homes and marketing suite are a key milestone for The Old Printworks and we look forward to the first move-ins this winter. The show homes reflect the vibrant community of Frome, which is a sought-after area with annual arts festivals and a rich culture.”
Frome was named the Best Place to Live in the South West by the Sunday Times in 2018. Residents are a 30-minute drive from the centre of Bath and less than an hour’s drive from Bristol, with rail connections across Somerset and towards London and Cardiff from Frome train station. The town is excellently located for enjoying local culture, with The Frome Independent monthly market popular for enjoying fresh produce and the annual Frome Festival celebrating the arts.
Currently, prices start from £310,000 for a three-bedroom semi-detached house and from £400,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse. Prices for two-bedroom apartments will start from £230,000, but have yet to be released.
Following the latest government guidelines and COVID-19 restrictions, the marketing suite and show homes are open daily by appointment with social distancing measures in place to ensure your safety. Buyers can also view an interactive, virtual tour of each showhHome from the safety of their home via the Acorn website, video appointments can also be booked where you can discuss the homes with the Acorn sales team.
Find out more about current Acorn Property Group developments.
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