Landmark Bristol development takes major step forward
A landmark Bristol development has taken an important step forward as detailed plans have been approved for phase one of the 1,435-home development.
Goram Homes and development partner, Vistry Group, have achieved reserved matters planning consent for the first 209 new homes at Hengrove Park.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses are all designed to benefit from a re-designed 22-hectare park, the size of around 30 football pitches.
The highly sustainable homes will connect to a striking new energy centre, which will also be built in this phase, providing low carbon heating and hot water to residents through a community district heating network.
Heat will be generated through an innovative system of heat pumps housed in the energy centre, which will travel through a network of underground pipes into people’s homes.
Barry Parsons, chair of Bristol City Council’s Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said: “Hengrove Park is a brilliant example of Goram Homes transforming council land into high quality, energy-efficient homes, with council housing in the numbers we really need.
“A third of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating, which is why we must build sustainable homes to tackle the climate emergency. This is a long-term project that’s building the right homes, in the right place, and it will be a significant moment when diggers start on site later this year.”
Around 60 homes in this first phase will be affordable for social rent and shared ownership, with over 700 affordable homes planned for the finished Hengrove Park development.
The largest development in Bristol in a generation, it received outline planning in 2020 for 1,435 new homes, a public park, and new community and sports facilities. Hengrove Park is the largest site to be developed by council-owned development company Goram Homes.
Feedback from the community helped inform the design for this phase. Following the consultation, the height of the apartment blocks was reduced from five storeys to four.
More pedestrian crossing points were included to provide additional access points from the homes to the park. And a design workshop with the community helped chose the best areas for pathways, seating, and park lighting.
Stephen Baker, managing director of Goram Homes, said: “Thank you to everyone who helped us shape our plans. We know how important this site is to local people, so we’ll continue to work alongside neighbours, community groups and those passionate about making Hengrove Park a thriving new neighbourhood.
“We’re not only building much needed new homes here, we’re also creating new facilities and public spaces for the whole Hengrove and Whitchurch community to enjoy. So please continue to get involved as we develop our plans for further phases.”
The first phase of the redesigned park includes accessible all-weather pathways, seating and socialising spaces to gather and play, and a pond and wetland areas with boardwalks and decking.
Goram Homes and Vistry Group will build the new homes and facilities in phases. The design team will work with the community at each stage to develop detailed plans before they are submitted to Bristol City Council.
Construction on the first phase of new homes, to be built to the east of South Bristol Community Hospital, will start towards the end of the year.
Susan Scholfield, Regional Managing Director of Vistry Bristol, said: “Hengrove Park is a once-in-a-generation development opportunity for Bristol and we’re very excited that detailed plans for the first 209 homes have been approved. Working in partnership with Goram Homes, we are set to transform this brownfield site into a thriving new neighbourhood, providing mixed-tenure homes at scale and a wide range of housing choices for the local community.”
