A historic Victorian building in Bristol is being turned into flats which will be sold off this autumn.
The old Imperial Tobacco headquarters on East Street in Bedminster is being redeveloped into 271 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
The building was a tobacco factory in the 1880s and belonged to brothers WD and HO Wills.
The duo were behind the launch of a number of now-famous cigarette brands including Woodbine and Capstan.
At the end of the 1800s, the Wills brothers partnered with 12 other family-run tobacco manufacturers to create The Imperial Tobacco Company.
The buildings were known as Consort House and Regent House, which later became Imperial Tobacco’s HQ. Tobacco was manufactured there until the 1970s.
Heritage developers City & Country bought the site in 2014 and renamed it Factory No.1.
The new homes are being created from the Victorian buildings and will have original features including fireplaces, large windows and high ceilings, according to Business Live.
They will be built within a landscaped courtyard and will have car parking. Many will also have terraces or balconies.
Imperial Arcade on East Street is also being revamped and turned into a collection of shops and working space as part of the scheme.
Suzanne Aplin of City & Country, told Business Live: “For years, Consort House and Regent House were some of Bedminster’s most eye-catching landmarks, paying homage to the city’s great tobacco heritage.
“Sadly, these buildings became redundant and were falling into disrepair. Having converted The General just over the river, we knew we could create a complementary yet more affordable range of conversion and new apartments at Factory No1, while breathing new life into these historic buildings.
“The transformation of the historic buildings, including Imperial Arcade, will act as a catalyst for change in the immediate local area, making it a very wise place to invest in and enjoy.”
Prices for the flats start from £250,000 and Help to Buy is available on homes priced up to £600,000.
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