Acorn Property Group reveal first look inside The Old Printworks in Frome

FOLLOWING the successful launch of The Old Printworks in Frome, developer Acorn Property Group say they are delighted to reveal the show homes and marketing suite, showcasing the contemporary lifestyle on offer, with virtual tours available. 

The group report, “Located on the site of the former Butler, Tanner and Dennis printing press, which printed the first Penguin books in 1935, the colourful show homes recall the iconic primary colours of Penguin paperbacks. The £45 million (GDV) development is set to bring 157 modern homes to the popular town of Frome, with the first homes ready this winter 2020.

“The Old Printworks is by housebuilder Acorn Property Group, working in conjunction with property investment and development group London & County. Located off Caxton Road along the banks of the River Frome are the first phases comprising of a mixture of 2-bedroom apartments, 2-bedroom houses, a 2-bedroom coach house, and 3- and 4-bedroom houses, set amongst 1.5 acres of green space with a new pathway down to the riverbanks. 

“Since the initial launch earlier this autumn, there have been several successful reservations, with buyers looking forward to a winter move-in. The two-bedroom coach house is the last property remaining, in the first phase, which will be ready this winter. 

“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 show home 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. 

“With interiors designed by SJP Interior Design of Bristol, the two show homes have been carefully accessorised with wonderful items sourced from many independent, local Frome shops which further showcases the town’s creativity. The 2-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 3-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, “It was a delight to design the new show homes and marketing suite at The Old Printworks, which is such an exciting development for the local Frome area. In the 2-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 3-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.”

The group add, “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 says, “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 says. “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.”

Originally operating for 165 years, the Butler, Tanner and Dennis printworks worked with Penguin Books Ltd when the first ever ten paperbacks were launched, printing the third edition of Ariel by André Maurois, a biography of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. 

First homes have been released on the first phase at The Old Printworks, with prices starting from £310,000 for a 3-bedroom semi-detached house and from £400,000 for a 4-bedroom townhouse.  Prices for 2-bedroom apartments will start from £230,000 (to be released). The marketing suite and show homes are open daily by appointment, please contact to book your visit. For further information, please contact Acorn Property Group on 01373 888 333 or visit: www. acornpropertygroup.org.