Goram Homes confirms work will start at Baltic Wharf this August

Goram Homes and its housebuilder joint venture partner, The Hill Group, are ready to start building at Baltic Wharf.

Members of the council’s planning committee today approved a new way to secure the affordable housing at the 166-home harbourside development.

Sovereign Network Group (SNG) will now buy the 50 homes for social rent and 16 for shared ownership, using Homes England grant funding to support the purchase.

Social rent is the cheapest form of affordable housing. These homes, which will be a mix of 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom apartments, will be allocated through the council’s HomeChoice register, ensuring they will be meeting priority housing need in the city.

Cllr Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Policy Committee, said: 

“The council’s plans for new homes at Baltic Wharf have been years in the making, so it’s fantastic to reach this milestone.

“Everyone should have access to a safe, warm, and affordable home, and we’re committed to building the right homes, in the right places. This partnership with SNG secures 40% affordable housing for this landmark development, providing much needed new homes in the centre of Bristol.

“It’s also a perfect example of why we have our own housing company to help us find solutions to our housing challenges. This development proves it is absolutely possible to build high quality, city centre developments with the levels of affordable housing we so desperately need.”

The 166-home development at the western end of the floating harbour received unanimous cross-party approval in April 2024.

New landscaped spaces at the heart of the development will open this area up to the public for the first time. Commercial spaces for cafes or retail will also help to create a new destination in this part of floating harbour.

It’s the fifth development from Goram Homes, which brings the number of homes either complete or in construction by the council owned housing company to 757.

Its mission is to build sustainable market and affordable homes that create lasting communities, respect the environment, and contribute to the local economy.

Stephen Baker, Managing Director of Goram Homes, says:

“We cannot ignore the housing crisis. As developers, we must find solutions to ensure policy levels of affordable homes are built, even in a challenging market. With SNG on board, and Homes England grant funding in place, we are now ready to get building what is a beautifully designed scheme in a prime waterfront Bristol location.

“A significant portion of any profit we make will go back to the council, to be reinvested into the city or the development of more new homes. We have also worked closely with the Harbour Authority to make sure it receives best value for its land.”

SNG is one of the most active developing housing associations in the UK with a strategy to invest £7bn into new and existing homes over the next 10 years.

James Gibson, SNG Regional Managing Director – West, commented:

“Baltic Wharf promises to be a fantastic development, and we’re really pleased to be able to progress with delivering affordable homes at this site. Overall, it will help to support SNG’s ambition to build 2,500 new homes a year.”

The Hill Group brings a proven track record in delivering large-scale city centre regeneration, underpinned by expertise in urban placemaking. This includes their successful delivery of McArthur’s Yard in Bristol, where 50% of the homes were affordable. This experience positions them perfectly to lead the transformation of this key harbourside location that has remained underutilised for too long.

Allan O’Brien, Regional Director at The Hill Group comments:

“We are delighted to partner with SNG as the affordable housing provider at Baltic Wharf.  Delivering high-quality, sustainable homes for the local community is a key priority for us, especially in Bristol, where the demand for housing remains high. We are looking forward to breaking ground on this project and transforming Baltic Wharf into a vibrant, thriving new neighbourhood that will contribute to the city’s growth.”

Hill will organise a drop-in event before construction on the new homes starts in earnest, to introduce nearby residents and businesses to the development team.

The Caravan Club will stay open for the Balloon Fiesta weekend, before closing its doors for Goram Homes to prepare the land for the start of development.