YATE’S former tumble dryer factory is set to be demolished, as South Gloucestershire Council’s ruling cabinet is being advised to sell it to a house builder “at the earliest opportunity”.
The developer, which has not been named, wants build 190 new homes on the site of the former Hotpoint plant, which was closed by its last operator Beko Europe 18 months ago.
Originally an aircraft factory, manufacturing at the Station Road plant later shifted to white goods, eventually specialising in tumble dryers.
The sale is expected to be approved by the cabinet next Monday, July 13.
The council bought the site in 2021 and leased the factory back to previous owner Whirlpool, which later became part of Beko Europe following a merger.
In 2024 Beko announced the factory would close at the end of that year, leading to almost 150 redundancies.
A report to the cabinet meeting said: “Despite its history, prior to the factory being closed there were only around 150 employees working at the site.
“Since the council took back full control of the site in July 2025, the site has incurred significant holding costs, including business rates, security and maintenance.
“In this period, the property has been subject to two separate break-in incidents where intruders have breached the 24-hour site security causing widespread damage and concern amongst the local community.
“This situation has reinforced the need to bring the site forward for redevelopment at the earliest opportunity.”
The factory plays an important role in Yate’s history. A Luftwaffe bombing raid in the Second World War killed 53 people.
At its peak, 3,000 employees worked at the factory.
Recognising this importance, the council is hoping to save a wartime first aid post, which could be transferred to Yate Town Council.
Details of which developer has been chosen and their plans have been kept confidential so far.
But the council didn’t receive any offers from potential owners who wanted to keep the whole site for employment, “reflecting current market demand”.
Half of the 190 new homes will be affordable, and some commercial space and a public car park will be created too, as well as new footpaths.
The developer will consult the local community first, before applying to the council for planning permission to redevelop the site and build housing.
How much the council will sell the land for has not yet been made public, but the price is expected to be more than £10 million.
Back in 2021, the council bought the tumble dryer factory for £9.98 million, in a bid to save 270 jobs and control the site’s future in case they relocated.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service