The planned development of a former factory on the outskirts of Bristol has left nearby residents worried about the potential strain on local services and amenities as a result of hundreds of people moving into the area. The former Kleeneze-KOTI factory site, in Hanham, will be redeveloped into 12 blocks of flats and houses as a new ‘village’ will be built.
South Gloucestershire Council has given planning permission for the project, which is for up to 200 dwellings, to be built. A total of 650sqm of commercial space will be created at a minimum and a village square will be located in the middle of the development.
Within the planned dwellings, which in submitted planning documents suggests that there will be 180 units, there will be a mixture of one and two bed flats, and two and three bedroom houses. More than 70 apartments will be built for “later living”.
If all the dwellings were to be filled, then 348 people could be moving into Hanham, which has concerned local residents who worry about their local GP services and shops. One resident, Mary, said that it is hard enough to get an appointment at her GP and thinks the future influx of new residents will make it “impossible” to seek any help.
She said: “It is concerning that hundreds of people could be moving into Hanham when I can’t get an appointment with my doctor as it is. It’s difficult to be seen at short notice, it will be impossible if these extra residents are added into the waiting list.
“It is great that the factory site will be turned into housing and become usable again, it has been sad to see the area being empty for so long. But we don’t have enough facilities to support everyone who would be living there.”
However, the planned 650sqm of commercial space could help relieve some concerns of residents. Whilst no details have been released about what sort of potential shops, facilities or services will be created within the space, it has made Brian, 47, who lives minutes away from the development site, cautiously optimistic.
Brian said: “If we were to gain a new GP, or new local shops or supermarkets, or even just somewhere to go, it could be a massive plus for Hanham. I just hope that the space isn’t wasted and that it can be accessible for everyone.”
Hanham has been subject to various changes over the last year, including a £400,000 scheme to improve Hanham High Street. That scheme proved controversial as residents felt mixed feelings whether the money was well spent.
The new housing project will be 35 per cent ‘affordable housing’, which would amount to 63 dwellings becoming ‘affordable’. But this was met with scepticism, as what is defined as ‘affordable’ may not be so.
A couple, who did not want to give their names, questioned whether it truly would be affordable amidst a housing crisis affecting South Gloucestershire and in neighbouring Bristol, where South Gloucestershire Council previously said that there was “no capacity” to help meet Bristol’s housing needs. They said: “Will the ‘affordable housing’ be social rented or will it be under a shared ownership model?
“I know many people who are struggling to find somewhere to live but I feel like this supposed ‘affordable housing’ won’t actually be affordable. It’s taken so long to get to this point that housing may finally be built, we hope that the council doesn’t mess this up.”
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