Shortlist announced for Novers Hill design competition

Goram Homes and Bristol Housing Festival have announced a shortlist of five architect teams through to the next stage of the Novers Hill Design Competition.

We asked local firms with 20 employees or less for imaginative and ecologically innovative proposals for their brownfield site at Novers Hill in Knowle West and received a great response.

The land on Belstone Walk used to be a primary school and sits adjacent to the Western Slopes, a well-loved wildlife corridor. More than 20 firms from across the West of England region responded with proposals for a residential scheme of around 50 new homes that would enhance the local area.

The shortlisted entries were anonymised and chosen by a panel of judges, which included representatives from the Knowle West community and Friends of the Western Slopes.

Congratulations goes to: 

1.  Barefoot Architects
2.  Ferguson Mann Architects
3.  gcp Chartered Architects
4.  Mitchell Eley Gould Architects with Studio Knight Stokoe
5.  RHaR Architects

The shortlisted group will now enter the second stage of the competition, which will include further design workshops and community engagement. We aim to select a winner at the end of the summer.

Cllr Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said

“Congratulations to all five shortlisted teams. The entries prove that good development can tackle our housing challenges and respect nearby ecology too. This brownfield site next to the Western Slopes has the potential to be a thriving new neighbourhood in wildlife rich surroundings. The development of new and affordable homes could be a real asset to the Knowle West community, and I look forward to the next stage of the competition.”

Julia Victor, founder of Friends of the Western Slopes (Novers Hill)

“It was a pleasure to be part of the competition panel and I was really pleased to see such thoughtful ideas. The chosen designs make best use of a brownfield site for the community, whilst acknowledging the need to make minimal impact on the nature conservation area next door”.

 Christiana Makariou, Senior Development Manager from Goram Homes said:

“All five designs show the potential for a really special and considered development. From sustainable homes to community food growing to multigenerational living, each one demonstrates how their design could benefit the community. The shortlisted teams also showed plans that could respect the ecology of the Western Slopes, which is incredibly important here. I can’t wait to see the designs progress.”

For further information on the competition please contact Jessie Hayden at jessie.hayden@housingfestival.org.uk