January 2025: Levelling Up On Glencoyne Square

You might remember in 2022 that we submitted another planning application to the Council for the community-led housing scheme on Glencoyne Square.  This was for permission to increase the number of flats to up to 187, which added another floor, and for which we got planning consent in July last year. We asked for this because affordable housing is much needed in Southmead and Bristol, and it made the project more financially viable to build and sell a greater number of homes.

Then, after changes in fire and engineering regulations, we learned that we would need to make changes to the building materials we are planning to use, which, in turn, then added more costs to the project.  After analysing these extra costs, alongside concerns that some residents had put forward at the monthly Team Southmead meeting about the higher level of the building and parking availability, we have reconsidered and have decided to not build the ten flats that made up the fifth floor level.

This decision means that the project will again be financially possible, but will still offer up to one hundred and seventy-seven new flats in Southmead;  the need for smaller accommodation was identified by residents in the Southmead Community Plan.  The decision to reduce the number of flats will also mean there is potentially less need for as many new parking spaces in the development.

We now need further permission from the Council to make this amendment, so we will submit an application this month.  We are hopeful that the Council will approve this change as soon as possible and we will keep updating you about when we expect building to begin.

If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the Greenway Centre, email: info@southmead.org, or tel: 0117 950 3335.

Read more about our community-led housing project HERE