News / Housing
Plans to build new ‘modular homes’ in Lockleaze
The company behind plans for Temple Island is set to secure a former allotment site in Lockleaze to build 180 new ‘modular homes’.
Bristol City Council is proposing to transfer the disused land at Bonnington Walk over to Legal & General (L&G), the asset management company that intends to build houses, offices, a hotel and conference centre near Temple Meads.
It says the scheme will focus on affordable homes and help to accelerate housebuilding across the city as the Labour administration continues its drive to build 2,000 new homes a year by 2020, including 800 affordable.
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The report going to cabinet on March 3, sets out the intention for the council to enter into a `non-binding’ Memorandum of Understanding with L&G Modular Homes. This will include, as a minimum, a `policy compliant’ level of affordable housing, in this case 30 per cent, with aspirations for an additional 21 per cent. But the agreement would not be legally binding.
Paul Smith, the cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re doing everything we can to accelerate the building of housing across the city, especially council housing. Working in partnership with L&G Modular Homes means homes will be manufactured offsite and completed onsite, allowing much-needed family homes to be built in days instead of months.
“It is particularly important to be building homes that people can afford, and I am really pleased that there’s a commitment for up to 51 per cent of the homes to be affordable through a mixture of homes for council housing and shared ownership.
“This will far exceed the council’s affordable housing guidelines for developments outside the central area of the city.”
Bonnington Walk in Lockleaze is a former allotment gardens and has been allocated for housing in Bristol’s Local Plan for more than 20 years. It is one of 43 sites the council has made available for new housing since 2016.
The council is working in partnership with Bristol Housing Festival on the scheme and both parties view it as an innovative solution to help address the shortage of housing in north Bristol.
Modular homes are built offsite using modern methods of construction and then transported into place. A similar development in St George has won an award, although the scheme divided opinion.
CGI of the 11 ZEDPods above Chalks Road car park in St George. Image courtesy of Bristol City Council
Speaking about the project, Jez Sweetland, project director for the Bristol Housing Festival, said: “We need a revolution in housing design and construction, but we also need to transform housing finance and affordability to better support the needs of local communities. L&G Modular Homes are at the forefront of precision manufacturing, and it’s great that our partnership means we can showcase these ideas in Bristol.”
The council has been working in collaboration with L&G Modular Homes on the design of the development for Bonnington Walk, and is currently finalising terms and preparing plans for the submission of a full planning application.
Consultation on the development is underway. If plans are approved, building work is expected to commence later this year.
The proposed development at Bonnington Walk will also see improvements made to adjoining areas of the site as part of a long term plan for investing in Lockleaze. These include new allotment patches and accessible green open space, designed to complement the existing community orchard. There are also plans for a new local community hub, as well as walking, cycling and road improvements.
Lockleaze is set for major regeneration. Photo by Ellie Pipe
Rosie Toogood, CEO at L&G Modular Homes, said the techniques used to build the modular housing delivers high quality, energy-efficient homes.
She added: “Our proposals will deliver a thriving community of over 180 homes, with a commitment to 51 per cent affordable, and a place that is both desirable to live and an innovative step change in residential scheme development in the UK.
“We are determined that Bonnington Walk will be an exemplar of innovation and sustainability.”
Main image of proposed modular homes in Lockleaze courtesy of Bristol City Council
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