Minister visits Southmead Regeneration: “a knockout transformation that came from local people”

The Government’s Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, visited Southmead last week (31 January) to hear about Southmead Regeneration and meet some of the local people who are on the steering group for one of the largest community-led housing project in the UK, which he described as a ‘knockout transformation that came from local people’.

He was joined by Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles. Members of Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project team (AGRP) a group of local residents and stakeholders leading the Regeneration Project, led a tour of Glencoyne Square where plans are underway for the community-led development.

This is the first phase of the community led regeneration project for the centre of Southmead that is likely to provide about 120 homes as well as new community amenities and improved open spaces. The project is being delivered by locally led charity Southmead Development Trust, in partnership with local housing association United Communities and Bristol City Council.

Southmead Regeneration will improve Southmead for residents now and into the future – generating an income which will help to support neighbourhood priorities in the years to come, for example, funding a youth worker or community project.

Trenna Blundell is a local resident and part of the steering group guiding the project. She said: “This project is going to help make the great community of Southmead even greater! I’m hoping it will help to make spaces which are warm, welcoming and vibrant, that jobs and homes will be created, and that as a community together we can be the change that is needed and wanted.”

 

 

Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse, said: “We’ve had a cracking day on a tour of ambition in an area of the country which is crying out for new housing and is well-served by its civic leaders, who have come together to deliver what the next generation needs.”

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said of the Ministerial visit: “We are committed to getting homes built in Bristol, and with the support of various partners, we are seeing developments of all sizes progressing across the city. This visit from the Housing Minister was an excellent opportunity to showcase what Bristol is already doing, but also to highlight what else could be possible with the right funding and support from government. We have ambitious targets to increase affordable housing, but we are well aware that there are many more challenges to come.”

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “It was good to meet the Housing Minister and show him some of the sites where we are building or planning to build new homes. It was a great opportunity to promote our region’s growing reputation for innovative, inclusive, green and sustainable housing developments.”

To learn more about Southmead Regeneration see the Southmead Development Trust website.