What might this community look like?
In bringing forward a development plan for this site we have these overarching objectives
To build a Sustainable community
To provide Affordable Housing
To provide workspace and range of community, art and recreation facilities
To create a safe and integrated environment that is owned, developed and managed through community partnership
The Model
With the kind support of architects Edward Nash we have outlined a masterplan as below (click on plans for larger version).
 The Site |
 The Village |
This is very different from the standard model of housing development. It is based on the Freiburg model which is a successful sustainable community development in Germany of 5000 people. Bristol City Council along with the regional health authority and UWE visited this development in 2009 and produced a glowing report of how this model could form the basis of new community development in Bristol (Freiburg report). This report is sadly being ignored.
The development is designed to minimize the impact on the environment and protect the valuable infrastructure of the College and the open space which would be lost to a conventional development. The plans show how the College campus could be transformed into a new sustainable “village” with a mix of houses and apartments, community space and workshops built around a village green. Existing college buildings would be retained and reused rather than being bulldozed for development. A new commercial hub would be created in the main college building with café, shops, studio and workspace. The sports hall would be retained for recreation sport and performance space and build workshops would offer self builders access to building and skills training facilities. The Village would also see the development of a new health centre and pharmacy.
Off the campus the open space would be sensitively developed for a mix of social and affordable housing respecting the value of the green space and natural habitats. Pockets of self build and cohousing would have their own community identity. A green production area would offer growing space with community allotments. Car use on the site would be restricted with houses and the Village linked by walkways and cycleways.
How would we deliver this?
To have any credibility in putting forward such an ambitious proposal we have to have to consider how this would be delivered. The key to this is partnership.
It is our objective to establish a community partnership structure that might be either a Community Interest Company (CIC) or Community Land Trust (CLT) and we are considering how these models might provide a suitable vehicle to buy and hold the land. The principle behind this is to offer those who design, build and live in this community shared ownership and responsibility for its development and management rather than this being dictated by a single developer.
We anticipate working with delivery partners that are likely to include developers, registered housing providers, self build organisations, funders etc that can each bring resources and skills. We are in discussions with a number and from those discussions we are now working on a partnership framework that would include the landowners, the local community. We are breaking new ground but work on the premise that because something has not been done doesn’t mean it cannot be done.
To build a Sustainable community
One that responds to the WWF’s 10 principles of One-Planet living
- Zero carbon….minimising CO2 emissions from heating and powering our buildings. Using renewable energy sources.
- Zero waste… Reusing buildings that have a useful economic life. Minimising impact on landfill.
- Sustainable transport…reducing need for carbon fuels, providing alternatives to travel. Providing workspace on site.
- Using local and sustainable materials..
- Local and sustainable food…Access to allotments and opportunity to grow and source food locally
- Sustainable water… using water efficiently through rainwater harvesting etc
- Protecting Natural Habitats and wildlife…reducing impact of development and encouraging biodiversity
- Culture, diversity and heritage….facilitating creative arts and cultural activity.
- Equality and diversity…Giving access and opportunity to all irrespective of background, culture or circumstance.
- Health and happiness…creating a sense of security, wellbeing and belonging in a supportive community.
To provide Affordable Housing
To demonstrate new affordable housing models that offer a range of prices and tenures
- Private self build and self finish housing….that offer opportunities to share skills and resources
- Cohousing.. that creates an affordable platform of co-operative living.
- Traditional social and intermediate housing that responds to those with the greatest needs
- A new model of rented housing partnership that offers tenants an investment stake in their homes
- Lifetime homes that support adaption to our changing needs.
The old model of social housing has failed. It is only accessible to a small minority, perpetuates a dependency culture and is unaffordable from public finances. Traditional social housing providers such as Housing Associations have so far shown surprisingly little appetite for looking at alternative affordable housing models despite extensive capital resources and encouragement from Government.
Here at the College we aspire to demonstrate the commercial validity of such models and work to the objective that 100% of our housing is affordable… and sustainable!
To provide workspace and range of community, art and recreation facilities
A workhub with access to broadband and support facilities
- Opportunities for training and employment.
- A communal café and arts, therapy and creative workshops
- Space for meetings, performance and community activities
- Sports facilities
- Communal allotments
To create a safe and integrated environment that is owned, developed and managed through community partnership
- A platform of community owned land, held in trust, to protect and preserve the integrity of this development.
- A range of partners as key stakeholders supporting and delivering this vision. Not, as envisaged in the tender brief, one housebuilder having overall control.
- A management organisation set up to run the communal facilities for the benefit of the community
