Goram Homes and Vistry sign deal to deliver Hengrove Park

Goram Homes, Bristol City Council’s housing company, and Vistry have signed a deal to deliver the landmark Hengrove Park development in South Bristol. The agreement secures delivery of a new neighbourhood of 1,435 homes, around half of which will be affordable housing.

Located on the former Whitchurch Airport airfield, Hengrove Park is one of the largest residential-led regeneration schemes planned in Bristol for generations.

The development will also feature a range of community and commercial facilities, including a community building, sports pavilion, shops and business space. An on-site energy centre will provide shared low-carbon heating and power across the neighbourhood.

At the heart of the masterplan is a new 22.2-hectare park (roughly the size of 30 football pitches) designed to enhance the site’s existing open and recreational spaces. Transport infrastructure includes new connections to Hengrove Way, Bamfield, Hengrove Promenade and The Boulevard, and new footways and cycleways.

Alongside agreeing a long-term partnership to deliver the multi-phase masterplan, Goram Homes and Vistry have formed a joint venture to deliver Hengrove Park Phase One.

This phase will provide the first 209 approved homes, including 104 for social rent and shared ownership. Subject to further detailed planning consent, Phase One is expected to expand to more than 350 homes, with around 50% designated as affordable housing.

Phase One will also deliver a substantial portion of the new public park, including playing pitches, a sports pavilion and a scout hut, as well as the development’s energy centre, and new transport connections and improved walking and cycling routes.

Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee at Bristol City Council, said:

“Goram Homes and Vistry’s partnership marks a major step forward for South Bristol. Hengrove Park is set to create a sustainable neighbourhood where people can access a range of housing tenures, including high-quality affordable homes.

“These homes will be centred around a new 22-hectare public park, designed to serve the new community and the surrounding neighbourhoods. This park will include significant investment in sports infrastructure, including new playing pitches and community facilities, providing the community with high-quality, inclusive spaces for recreation and wellbeing for many years to come.

“The transformation of this former airfield into a place that responds directly to Bristol’s housing needs shows what can be achieved when the council works through Goram Homes alongside committed partners, including the West of England Combined Authority and Homes England, to unlock complex sites which have the potential to deliver lasting benefits for our communities.”

Stephen Baker, Managing Director of Goram Homes, said:

“This partnership with Vistry is the result of years’ work and ensures Hengrove Park becomes a reality, delivering a phased regeneration development that will be transformational for South Bristol.

“Hengrove Park will be a mixed-tenure, neighbourhood which ultimately creates over 1,430 new homes over the next decade, of which around 50% will be affordable housing, helping to meet the city’s urgent, and growing need, for more homes.

“Hengrove Park’s character will be defined by its high-quality park and green spaces that support health, wellbeing and community life, helping to create a sense of place.”

Susan Scholfield, Bristol’s Regional Managing Director at Vistry, said:

“Our successful collaboration with Goram Homes has already delivered a significant number of quality new mixed-tenure homes across Bristol, so we’re excited to officially enter this next partnership to bring forward Hengrove Park. This new neighbourhood will meet a range of local housing needs, as well as delivering a new high-quality public park for the whole community to enjoy.

“We look forward to moving into the delivery of Phase One’s 209 high-quality, energy-efficient homes, including over 50% affordable housing, and a mix of family and starter homes.”

The masterplan for Hengrove Park: A multi-partner collaboration

The overall masterplan for Hengrove Park represents a major collaborative regeneration effort in South Bristol, led by Goram Homes working in partnership with Bristol City Council. The development is further supported by investment from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Homes England to support enabling infrastructure works for the development.

The first residential development for Hengrove Park, which was also developed by Goram Homes, is set to complete this year. Dundry View will deliver 53 new homes, which are 100% affordable housing, including 27 apartments for social rent and 26 for shared ownership. The scheme was commissioned by Bristol City Council and is being built by The Hill Group.

The masterplan for Hengrove Park is the latest part of a wider regeneration programme for South Bristol spanning over 20 years. Led by Bristol City Council, the Hengrove Park Regeneration project (Hartcliffe Campus) delivered key amenities that completed in 2012, including the South Bristol Community Hospital, Hengrove Park Leisure Centre and the South Bristol Skills Academy (part of City of Bristol College).