News / Housing
End in sight for Bristol North Baths debacle
Work has resumed on Bristol North Baths more than six months after the council pulled the plug on support for the original developer.
Chatsoworth Homes were ordered to leave the site on Gloucester Road after presiding over a succession of delays and eventually going bankrupt.
Following the release of more funds and the appointment of a new contractor, work began again on the development last week, with homebuyers who were supposed to move in 2013 due to receive their keys by November, the council said.
is needed now More than ever
The new contractor, CW Duke, will be firstly completing the new build flats, library space, car park and public convenience before moving on the remaining refurbishment works within the former swimming pool.
The city council lent Chatsworth Homes more than £3 million back in 2011 to convert the old baths into a GP surgery, library and flats which were supposed to open in October 2013.
The new budget released by the council earlier this year to finish the works will take the total spend up to almost £5 million.
But the council estimates it will raise almost £6 million through the sale of the flats and the sale of land on the current library on Cheltenham Road. The surplus will be added to the council’s budget for future affordable housing, former mayor George Ferguson said in March.
But dozens of contractors, including builders, decorators, electricians and plumbers, are still owed about £1.5 million, according to an administrator’s report.
Read more: Council orders developers to leave Baths
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