The site of the former Kleeneze-KOTI factory in Hanham is a pivotal moment, not just for the site itself as it will become transformed, but for the people of Hanham generally. The factory was once a great institution which was created and based in Hanham for over 80 years, last year the Kleeneze brand turned 100 years old.
Planning permission for a new village to be built on the site has been granted by South Gloucestershire Council, following the agreement of a Section 106. It means that the next phase of the project can begin as plans are drawn up for the various housing and open spaces that will be created.
In short, 12 blocks of housing, ranging from two storeys up to five storeys, will create up to 200 dwellings. In submitted initial plans, 180 dwellings have been counted and includes a range of houses, flats and “later living” apartments.
A total of 35 per cent of the units would be ‘affordable housing’, meaning that 63 flats/houses/apartments would be affordable. The development will also include creating public spaces, including a new village square, and a range of semi-private and parking areas for residents. The central village square will be a focal point with trees and a playground area.
The development will include footpaths that link the development directly to Hanham high street. New access will be created from New Walk, Martins Road and Anstey’s Road.
Whilst the saga moves on to its next phase, it has been decades in the making. Having built a factory in Hanham in 1923, the Kleeneze brand manufactured cleaning supplies, famously being sold door-to-door by salesmen.
The significance of the brand to areas such as Warmley and Kingswood was felt, it provided the community with vital jobs and became well known across Bristol and beyond. Kleeneze would be immortalised within the Kingswood Heritage Museum, in Warmley.
The Tesco saga
When Kleeneze moved out of Hanham in 2004, the site was earmarked to become a new superstore. Tesco had applied to the council to open a supermarket on the site, which in an alternative timeline, would have opened in 2005.
The plans were met with many objections by the people of Hanham, as the Bristol Post reported in 2004. Dated January 19, 2004, John Warren’s article said: “The proposals have prompted a mixed reaction from residents, some of whom warn it would lead to a sharp rise in traffic and pose a risk to safety. They held a protest at the site last week and Tesco put the plans on show at Hanham Folk Centre in a bid to allay residents’ concerns.”
The plans were withdrawn a year later, but it would not be the end of the story. Tesco drew up fresh plans in order to build a 28,000 sq ft store, as reported in 2009. It would have created 230 parking spaces.
Again this was met by protesters who opposed the prospect of the new superstore. Hanham Parish Councillor Patrick Berry told the crowd of people who were protesting that the land should be kept as a light industrial site or used for housing.
Mr Berry said: “Imagine the amount of traffic going in and out that would come down this road. It would be absolutely intolerable,” the Bristol Post reported on November 27, 2009.
Homes England steps in
The plans were ultimately refused and further plans to build the superstore fell through for the last time in 2016, despite planning permission having been granted in 2012. In November 2016, Tesco confirmed that the plan was abandoned and that the site would be sold.
Homes England later purchased the former factory and since the acquisition, several former buildings were demolished whilst plans were drawn up for 150 dwellings, later expanded to a number up to 200.
In the end, planning permission was granted and in 2024, 20 years after the Kleeneze factory closed down, plans for up to 200 dwellings with 650 sqm of commercial space look closer than ever to becoming reality.
The development will help fill a gap in housing within South Gloucestershire, as part of its council plan. If taking the 180 dwellings into account, and presuming every unit is filled, then it would provide enough accommodation for 348 people.
The new village would be built with community in mind, providing easy links to Hanham high street whilst providing private spaces so the housing feels separate from the surrounding streets. After several decades of back-and-forth negotiations, a plan to move forwards is underway.
For those people in Hanham who spent the 2000s and early 2010s protesting against the planned Tesco store, it would be a massive win for them to know that housing could now finally be built on the Kleeneze site.
Want the latest Bristol breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.