Massive milestone for Lockleaze community and tackling housing need
This week Lockleaze Loves Homes community led housing project is now live on Bristol City Council’s planning portal, a massive milestone for the community, demonstrating not only can the community develop housing, but it can develop housing that meets community need benefitting both existing and new neighbours.
The idea for the project started in 2017 following the community survey, when a group of residents got together to explore the idea of community led housing. Lockleaze had over 30 development sites: land owned by the Council and set aside for some sort of development. The prevailing mood in the area was, nothing ever happens here, and if housing is ever built it won’t benefit local people. Not content to accept this, a pilot group got together to explore what sort of housing they would build if they got decide to the rules. The consensus was clear, the housing would be:
affordable in perpetuity (genuinely affordable)
available to local people (local lettings policy applied)
targeted toward Lockleaze housing need (1 and 2 bed homes)
focus on building for community and well being (mixture of public and private space, good light and noise insulation, support wildlife)
high sustainable building standards to minimise resident outgoings
Over the next couple the years the group were successful in both Homes England and Power to Change funding for the pre-development costs, and in acquiring the land through Bristol City Council’s competition for land disposal for community led housing, and in just 18 months from resident-appointed-architects, Barefoot Architects, in place, the plans have been submitted. Residents have been involved every step of the way, from selecting the architects, detailed steering group discussions, consultations with neighbours, walking tours, inspiration tours, design workshops and in a survey for the local lettings policy (still open if you want to respond). The proposal is for 19 homes, solar panels, shared community green space and private gardens, 1 & 2 bed homes, 100% affordable in community ownership. It is designed by people who want to live in it, so the details about paths by windows, where light comes in, the mixture of public and private space - has been designed with a special level of attention and care. The development team has also engaged with neighbours to see if the development can be a catalyst for improvements to the Turner Garden green, and a catalyst for wilding the street to support the furry, feathered and prickly neighbours of bats, birds, foxes and hedgehogs in the area to remain welcome too. In short, this development seeks to make Lockleaze a better place for both new and existing residents. It is a credit to the great community in which it resides.
To view and respond to the planning document go the Bristol City Council’s planning portal and search for the reference 21/01219/F
if you want to find out more about the process or discuss the proposal contact Alex Bugden at alex@lockleazent.co.uk