The transformation of St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport is finally set to go ahead after more than two decades after a Section 106 agreement was signed.
The seven-acre site sits between the River Brit and Bridport’s historic South West Quadrant and has deep roots in the town’s world-renowned rope and net-making industry. Many of its buildings date back more than 150 years, with a blue plaque marking the location where William and Sidney Gale first began producing twine in 1877.
Since acquiring the site in 1968, the Hayward family has preserved its industrial character while adapting the estate into a haven for small local businesses.
Today, St Michael’s supports more than 90 tenants and 25 co-occupants.
Martin Ridley, from the St Michael’s estate office, said: “It’s been a long, tough road but we now have a viable master scheme and a proper phased project plan to take us forward.”

The origins of the current regeneration scheme date back to 2002, when the then West Dorset District Council adopted a strategy for the town’s South West Quadrant. Since then, no fewer than nine planning applications and four masterplans have been prepared with earlier versions either stalled by appeals or derailed over planning conditions.
Now, after years of revisions and consultation, full planning approval has finally been secured from Dorset Council planners for a comprehensive mixed-use scheme that will:
n Restore and conserve many of the estate’s historic industrial buildings
n Deliver modern commercial units in keeping with the area’s heritage
n Create a riverside walkway for public use
n Improve public realm through shared spaces and walkways
n Provide both open market and affordable housing in a central location
n Sustain and grow employment and training opportunities
n Consolidate and secure the long-term viability of the trading estate
Martin added: “It’s an exciting time for the estate as approval offers more than a mixed-use development project; it’s an opportunity to shape the legacy of a place that has served Bridport for generations.”
n More information at stmichaelsbridport.co.uk