Speller Metcalfe begins work on sustainable homes in Bristol

Published by

Peter Davison

Worcestershire-based housebuilder Speller Metcalfe has started work on Bristol's latest green housing project, Lockleaze, which is being delivered on behalf of housing association Abri.

Fifty percent of the new homes on the north Bristol estate – which is home to the Purdown BT Tower which can be seen from the M32 into Bristol, and was the filming location for Channel 4 sitcom Teachers and BBC Three drama Thirteen, starring Jodie Comer – will be affordable, with 20 homes available for shared ownership, 17 for social rent, and 37 for open-market sale.

The homes will incorporate renewable energy features to lower their carbon footprint such as air source heat pumps that transfer heat from outside into the home, which can be used to power radiators, underfloor heating and hot water systems.

Councillor Tom Renhard for Bristol City Council visited the new development to find out about the scheme which aims to regenerate the derelict site.

Stephen Lodge, executive director of development and strategic asset management at Abri: said: "It was a pleasure to meet with Councillor Renhard to showcase the progress being made. Working here with Bristol City Council, Speller Metcalfe and our partners is testament to what collaboration can achieve.

“We’re regenerating land that has been derelict for over ten years so it’s great to now see it being brought back to life with new, sustainable homes that will be of real value. This helps us to tackle environmental challenges and work towards Abri’s and Bristol’s net zero carbon targets to create sustainable homes in the long term.”

Cllr Tom Renhard said: “Bristol is facing a real challenge to address both housing and climate change crises. I’m delighted to see these homes being built on a scheme that will be gas boiler free. It will address the climate emergency in its construction, whilst the regeneration of this formerly disused land will also provide much needed homes for the community. It’s also great to see that 50 per cent of these homes are being made affordable which exceeds policy requirements for new developments.”

Mark Eaton, living manager at Speller Metcalfe said: “We are excited to be delivering these new homes in partnership with Abri, particularly as not only will they support local housing needs but also provide sustainable homes for the future – supporting Bristol’s vision as a green city.”

Pictured: Stephen Lodge (Abri), Scott Edwards (Abri), Cllr Renhard, Eliana Stenning (Emmett Russell), Max Dilke (Abri), Kieran Meadows (Speller Metcalfe), Mark Eaton (Speller Metcalfe)

Peter Davison

Peter Davison is deputy editor of The Business Magazine. He has spent his life in journalism – doing work experience in newsrooms in and around Bristol while still at school, and landing his first job on a local newspaper aged 19. By 28 he was the youngest newspaper editor in the country. An early advocate of online news, he spent the first years of the 2000s telling his bosses that the internet posed both the biggest opportunity and greatest threat to the newspaper industry and the art of journalism. He was right on both counts. Since 2006 he has enjoyed a career as a freelance journalist. He lives in rural Wiltshire with one wife, two children, and three cats.