Following five years of delays and frustration after a major fire of 2018, St Michael's Trading Estate in Bridport will be opening the Edwards Tower Building for viewing by prospective tenants next week.

The Edwards Tower Building is high profile and is a well-known landmark in Bridport; it housed more than 20 tenants and six of them were long-term displaced and had to urgently find alternative premises after the fire.

Martin Ridley of St Michael's Trading Estate said: "It has been a long road back for us, as landlords, and for our long suffering tenants, but we are now able to make contact with the many interested parties to say that we are scheduling in a series of Viewing Open Days for prospective tenants, as the last fixings are being completed by our electrical contractors with, ironically, the new fire alarm the last piece of work to be completed."

The reinstatement work has cost more than £1million and has taken virtually five years to complete, but both Bridport and St Michael's can now lay claim to having the first new, multi-occupancy commercial spaces to be available in the town for about 20 years. 

A major part of the challenge has been to make sure a building, originally constructed at the turn of the century, complies with modern building regulations and health and safety guidelines.

The newly restored building will offer a little under 6,000 square feet across three floors, comprising 11 studios/offices.

Prospective tenants will have the added benefit of becoming part of the thriving and buzzing St Michael's community with its diverse mix of more than 100 businesses.

Further plans remain in place for the overall development and regeneration of the entire estate.

Mr Ridley added: "It is critical as we move forward with the regeneration scheme that we maintain the uniqueness of the estate; attracting visitors from all over the country to experience the wide range of businesses trading here at St Michael's."

Anyone interested in viewing the new Edwards Tower Building should contact the estate office on 01308 423747 or email [email protected]