The developer tasked with building Bristol’s largest single development this century so far has been chosen by the council-owned housebuilding company. Goram Homes has struck a ‘preferred partner’ deal with Countryside Partnerships to build around 1,400 homes at Hengrove Park, on the site of the former Whitchurch Airfield.
Some of the homes have already been built, and work is progressing on others already, but the bulk will be built by Countryside Partnerships, an Essex-based housebuilder that was bought out by construction giants Vistry six months ago for £1.27 billion.
At Hengrove Park, the council-owned development firm Goram Homes are planning to build a range of flats and new houses - half of which will be council-owned affordable homes let out at the cheapest social rent level to people on the housing waiting list. The 22-hectare public park will also have new play areas, a sports pavilion and new community space - or rather, parts of the existing public open space that will be left undeveloped.
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“This is a huge step forward for Hengrove Park and a perfect example of what our housing company does best,” said Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees. “By working in partnership with private developers like Countryside, Goram Homes can not only deliver high quality, net zero homes fit for the future, but also provide new facilities, jobs, and training opportunities that will benefit people across south Bristol,” he added.
“Bristol built 2,563 new homes – including 464 affordable new homes, the most in more than a decade – in 2021/22, exceeding our manifesto target and bringing the total number of new homes built since 2016 to some 11,000. Our city’s largest development in a century, here at Hengrove Park, will only add to that record of delivery,” he added.
Marvin Rees and Bristol Labour were elected in 2016 on a campaign pledge to build 2,000 new homes a year, with 800 of them ‘affordable’ homes, so while the manifesto target has been passed for homes that are not deemed to be ‘affordable’ in planning terms, the target for affordable homes has not.
But Hengrove Park, with a 50-50 mix of council homes and private homes, will go a long way to boost those numbers in the coming years. Council housing chief, Cllr Tom Renhard, said it was an important step to sign up with a housebuilder to get the job done.
“This is development done right,” he said. “Hengrove Park will create hundreds of council-owned homes, helping to meet a huge demand in this part of the city. And the on-site energy centre connected to highly insulated homes will limit carbon emissions and could help to lower energy bills for residents too,” he added.
The development is right next door to the South Bristol Skills Academy - part of City of Bristol College - and those attending the centre will get direct experience building real homes nearby.
Countryside Partnerships has grown to be a national company by building what are known as ‘mixed-tenure’ developments - where a lot of the homes are built for social housing and often working with a local authority. They have already signed up to one project in Bristol - the One Lockleaze scheme with Goram Homes.
“We are delighted to be working again with Goram Homes to jointly deliver Hengrove Park, a once-in-a-generation development opportunity for Bristol,” said Countryside Partnerships’ chief executive Stephen Teagle. “It is a fantastic example of the strengths and capabilities of our business - by working in partnership with Goram Homes, we can now provide mixed-tenure homes at scale and transform this brownfield site into a thriving new neighbourhood that promotes our ethos of ‘Places People Love’,” he added.
The first stage of the massive Hengrove Park development is already underway, with a different developer - The Hill Group - building 53 council houses on Hengrove Boulevard at the entrance to the leisure centre and hospital campus there.
The next phase will see homes built on Hengrove Park itself, with the plan to start building next year.
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