December 22, 2016
Work is set to start on two brand new blocks of flats in the heart of Bristol city centre. The flats are a part of the Finzels Reach development and will see nearly 200 new homes built in central Bristol.
Developer Cubex has appointed a contractor to build the new homes for the private rental market as part of a £32 million deal. Local contractor Willmott Dixon has been signed up for the contract and is already on site preparing access and setting up the tower crane, with work set to begin in February 2017. The development will be the largest build-to-rent residential scheme in the city and is part of the redevelopment of the former Courage Brewery site.
In recent weeks a bridge has been installed linking Castle Park with the development. As well as flats and offices there will also be new bars and restaurants along with a micro-brewery. The bridge is designed to attract more people into the area and link it with the rest of the city centre. The two buildings at Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf will contain a combination of one and two-bedroom apartments, expected to appeal in particular to ‘generation rent’, young professionals with a mobile lifestyle.
Willmott Dixon was also recently appointed to build out the Grade A speculative office building Aurora at Finzels Reach, where construction work has started.
Gavin Bridge, director developers Cubex, said: “This is another exciting step for us. Work is moving ahead apace across Finzels Reach, with our flagship office building Aurora underway, the new s-shaped bridge installed last week and set to open to the public in early 2017 and work starting soon on our build-to-rent scheme.We are really keen to do more deals of this nature within Bristol and across the South West and South Wales.”
Willmott Dixon’s Bristol office has been behind some of the region’s biggest developments, including the new Colston Hall Foyer, Keynsham Town regeneration, University Technical College in North Bristol, Bristol University’s Centre for Nano Science and Quantum information, plus new Fire Stations for Avon Fire and Rescue at Temple Street, Kingswood and Hicks.
Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon, said: “Creating Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf apartments together with Aurora offices will deliver a thriving new community in the heart of Bristol City Centre. Led by our committed and local team we are looking forward to making these exciting plans come to life.”
Finzels Reach is one of the largest mixed use developments in the South West and once complete will include 440 new apartments, two Grade A office buildings, a 168 bedroom Premier Inn which is due to open in 2017, plus a host of cafes, restaurants and a microbrewery.
The 4.7 acre site has a rich history. Once the heart of the medieval city, later it became a sugar refinery and more recently the site of the Courage Brewery until 1991.
The vibrant vision of mixed-use space is that of Cubex, the Bristol-based company that took on the site four years ago, with investment from London-based Palmer Capital, after a previous attempt to regenerate the site had fallen into receivership.The project combines the restoration of some of the existing and historic buildings, including the Grade II listed Generator Building. This brings a new lease of life to the local area of Bristol and will see much needed rejuvenation to the core of the city
Author: M Ribbeck , Bristol Post