Bristol approves plans for affordable eco-friendly housing on disused plots

Plans for affordable eco-friendly housing in Bristol have been approved and are set to be built on disused council-owned garage plots in the city.  

A row of nine one bedroom, two storey homes will be built on Bell Close in Horfield, each fully insulated with low energy lighting, as well as solar panels and air source heat pumps.  

The homes have been designed by BDP and will be delivered by EQUANS, with full funding from Bristol City Council.  

Cllr Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes at Bristol City Council, said: ‘We’re committed to delivering 1,000 new affordable homes each year by 2024 to help meet the need for high-quality, sustainable new homes in Bristol. It is widely recognised that achieving our ambition requires courage, innovation and collaboration.  

‘The Gap House concept will revitalise a disused garage plot and make sure that council land is best used to create value for Bristol citizens, delivering much needed affordable homes whilst tackling the climate and ecological emergencies. If the project is a success, then we will look to identify further sites for Gap Houses in the future.’ 

The Gap House was initially first showcased at the Bristol Housing Festival in 2018, as BDP proposed a way to solve both the housing and climate crises at once.  

Houses will be largely factory-built using modern methods of construction (MMC), meaning homes will be built off-site before being brought to the development for the final stage of construction.  

Recent research by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has revealed that it is nearly impossible for Brits on housing benefits to rent a home, with 98% of available properties in the UK out of the price range of benefit receivers.  

Additionally, just one home in Bristol was found to be an affordable property within a single month.  

It’s hoped this new housing concept could help to rectify this issue, with Innovate UK studying whether MMC could increase the scale and pace of housing delivery.  

Bristol City Council has also approved two other sites using MMC for council housing, including 12 homes in Lockleaze and 12 one-bedroom apartments in Knowle West. Work is expected to begin on all three sites in Spring 2023.  

Photo by William Chang