You might have heard about this – seen posters at the SCART shop, flyers at the Greenway Centre, pictures online of what Glencoyne Square might look like in the future – some big changes are around the corner and the community of Southmead is in the driving seat.
So what exactly is Southmead Regeneration Project? Who is involved in it – and how is the community leading it?
Well, the story begins with the Southmead Community Plan.
The development of the Community Plan, which surveyed 900 local people, identified Glencoyne Square and Arnside Road as needing major improvements to make them an attractive centre that people want to use, as well as there being a need to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime
The Masterplan
To take the issues and aspirations identified in the Southmead Community Plan, the Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project Team was set up. This consists of local people, the Southmead Development Trust workers and Trustees, United Communities Housing Association, and Bristol City Council representatives.
Then Bristol City council, with the support of Southmead Development Trust and United Communities, won some government funding for works on the Arnside area to improve it, as well as works to enable some development on Glencoyne.
Next we hired Nash Partnership (the architects) to work with Southmead Development Trust, as well as community representatives, to run public consultation events and to produce masterplan for the area.
What will the project deliver?
The aim of the project is to improve this central part of Southmead for residents now and into the future. It is also hoped that the development will generate income in years to come to help pay for and support the neighbourhood and its priorities; for example, this might be funds to pay for workers to tackle the priorities in Southmead e.g. youth workers and/or other community based workers.
What is the Glencoyne Square Project?
This is the first phase of the community led regeneration project for the centre of Southmead that is likely to provide about 120 homes as well as new community amenities and improved open spaces on Glencoyne Square.
What will be built on Glencoyne Square?
To date the following have been identified through the masterplan process carried out between June and October 2018, through community consultation and working with Bristol City Council:
• Approximately 120 new homes
• A new play area
• Improved roads, paths etc
• Provision of new community amenities which are not all known at this stage but are likely to include a new health centre as well as other possible facilities/businesses.
Who will the homes be for?
The Community Plan identified that there was a need for smaller homes for older people who would like to downsize but stay in the local area, also younger people who would like to live near their families, as well as key workers such as hospital workers.
It is intended to build one and two bed apartments available via a range of tenures; for example, affordable rent, discounted market rent, shared ownership and market rent on longer tenancies.
There will be a local lettings policy agreed with Bristol City Council to make sure many of the homes are available to people with a local connection.
Future phases on other sites in the area will see the development of family houses.
Arnside Road improvements?
At the same time as we are working on proposals to consult on Glencoyne, Bristol City Council are developing ideas for the Arnside Road shopping area and Greystoke Avenue. Bristol City Council and are likely to start on site in spring 2020. Bristol City Council are responsible for liaising with people on these works, but are providing regular updates to AGRP and where it is possible the Southmead Development Trust will enable consultation and discussions with the community and traders.
How are the community involved?
Southmead Development Trust, the community organisation owned and run by the community, is supporting the project. Southmead Development Trust are working with the Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project Team and our vision is to engage with as many people in the community as possible as we know the key to success of this project is community involvement.
There will be lots of opportunities for residents to help to shape the project; if you live or work in Southmead, or have other connections to the area – this is your chance to get involved:
In March we’ll have a number of pop-up events around the community, in local groups, and at schools, where you can give your thoughts on the project design and uses of the public space and park.
In April there will be an event with the architects where you’ll be able to see where the plans are, and feedback to the team.
In May and June the architects will be working hard to feed your comments into the design of Glencoyne Square, ready to showcase in July.
In July we’ll be showcasing the final design at Southmead Festival – come and take a look!
How do I stay updated on event information and other news?
Newsletter: Receive the Southmead Regeneration e-newsletter. Please email hannahwalker@southmead.org if you’d like to join the mailing list.
Website: For news and regular updates – as well as to read the Masterplan and learn about the background behind the project, go to www.southmead.org and click ‘Southmead Regeneration Project’.
Check The Mead website and follow TheMeadBS10 on Facebook and @TheMeadBS10 on Twitter, for regular updates and event information.
Check out the SCART shop on Arnside where a whole window is dedicated to updates and information on the Regeneration Project.
How will the project be funded?
The funding for the project will be part grant funded which the Southmead Development Trust and the housing association partner, United Communities, will have to bid for. The rest will be through borrowing from banks. The amount borrowed is linked to the income from the rents (we have to make sure we can pay back the loans!).
Who are United Communities?
United Communities are a Bristol based housing association with a lot of experience in developing affordable homes and working on community led projects like Glencoyne, this is why they were selected at Southmead Development Trust’s partner. You may already know them from the Dunmail School site regeneration.
What will United Communities do?
United communities are working with the Southmead Development Trust, the community, the architects and the contractor to help design the project and work out the costs. United Communities are also likely to take the lead when it comes to managing the build contract and will own and manage over half of the homes built.
The redevelopment will be the largest community led development in the UK to date, so we want Southmead Residents and the wider Bristol community to be aware of the project so that interest and input can be generated in the ongoing regeneration of Southmead. We want the redevelopment to be a long standing source of revenue which gives back to the community for many years to come and continually improves the area for the people who live and work here.
