Work to demolish a small block of flats and then build 38 new homes for local people in a Bristol suburb should start within weeks after council planners gave permission for the project.
The scheme will see 38 new flats built in Lawrence Weston by Bath-based housing association Curo. All the new homes will be let at social rent rates to people on the Bristol City Council HomeChoice housing waiting list, with people local to Lawrence Weston given priority, the developers have said.
The new flats will be located in between two of Lawrence Weston’s big development sites that have taken shape in recent years. The site of the former Long Cross Inn, which was demolished in the mid-2010s, on the corner of Long Cross and Atwood Drive, is already being developed for new homes, while the site at Rockwell further to the east along Long Cross, is also being developed by Curo.
In between those two sites, stands Holly House, a low-rise block of flats that are now earmarked for demolition and redevelopment, with 38 new modern flats, of one or two bedrooms. Curo said the new homes will be in three blocks, with landscaped gardens in between.
“The redevelopment will replace the old flats with 38 energy-efficient homes across three blocks, offering a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats. The homes will be allocated through Bristol City Council, but priority will be given to local residents,” a Curo spokesperson confirmed.
“Each flat will have its own private parking space – adaptable for electric vehicle charging, as well as a private balcony, and secure bike storage with a maintenance rack. Curo will also use part of the site to build a small satellite office; which it will use to better service the local community.
“The development will also include improvements to the wider area, such as new pedestrian routes, a zebra crossing and landscaped communal gardens to create a more attractive and welcoming environment. The development will also provide new green spaces, with planted wildflowers as well as bird and bat boxes, to make the area more attractive and environmentally friendly,” she added.
The new homes will not have any gas installed – either for cooking or heating. “The homes will use solar panels, air-source heat pumps and carefully chosen energy efficient materials to keep resident’s bills low and contribute to a greener future,” the Curo spokesperson added.
The 38 new homes will add to the 44 new affordable homes being built on the sites either side, meaning Curo will eventually be managing 82 new ‘council’ homes in Lawrence Weston, replacing a site which contained the old Holly House flats and the long-lost pub.
“We initially considered refurbishing the block, but the scale of work required led us to explore a more sustainable solution,” said Sarah Maylor, Curo’s director of development. “By working closely with Bristol City Council, and local stakeholders, we’ve developed a long-term strategy which allows us to regenerate these homes – that are at the end of their useful life – to provide new, high-quality homes for the community.”
“We’ll also be managing these homes for the long term, so we’ve put a great deal of thought into ensuring they’re well-built and designed to be places people can enjoy for years to come,” she added.