News / St Philips
Soapworks developers help support Bristol charities
A donation of £1 for each person who contributed to a consultation for a major new development in St Philip’s has been made to three Bristol charities.
Six thousand people gave their views about the proposed new Soapworks, due to be built on the site of what was most recently Gardiner Haskins – still trading the other side of Straight Street.
It means that £6,000 has been donated by developers First Base to 1625 Independent People, The Grand Appeal and Off The Record.
The consultation was carried out in both English and Somali, with the response rate significantly higher than average for development projects of this size.
First Base project director, Lucinda Mitchell, said: “We were overwhelmed with the level of engagement we had on the Give My View platform, which has allowed us to donate a significant sum of money to three local charities, each of which do invaluable work for young people in the South West – now more than ever.
“The high response rate reflected the local community’s deep interest in the future of the Soapworks building and we worked hard to respond to everyone’s feedback within our recent planning submission.”
First Base is proposing to transform the Soapworks site in Old Market with a mixed-use development “that will celebrate Bristol’s industrial past and creative culture” – image: First Base
A number of key changes have already been made to the scheme’s original proposals for the 2.25-acre site, including locally focused retail, affordable and family homes, new green and open space, and a range of flexible spaces for independent businesses and freelancers.
First Base say that their planning application for Soapworks “will reinvigorate a site that has been at the heart of Bristol’s economy for generations, delivering a mix of high-quality workspace, new homes and social spaces”.
The scheme will include:
- 200,000 sq ft of commercial, retail and co-working space.
- 159 hotel units.
- The renovation of the the former Gardiner Haskins warehouse.
- Space for pop-up restaurants and market stalls.
- 166 new homes for single occupants, couples and families.
The application will be determined by Bristol City Council over the coming months.
A number of key changes have already been made to the scheme’s original proposals for the 2.25-acre site – image: First Base
Main image: First Base
Read more: Developer to bring more than 100 plant species to Old Market
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