Bristol-based housing company Goram Homes has been given the go-head to move forward plans to build more than 1,700 new homes – including over 600 affordable properties – on sites across the city.
The plan is projected to provide a major boost for the local economy, with £250m set to be spent on the construction of new projects – 75% of which will be earmarked for local companies.
Bristol is also set to benefit from new public spaces and ecological features as part of the Goram Homes Business Plan, which was approved by Bristol City Council’s cabinet members earlier this week.
Stephen Baker, managing director of Goram Homes, said: “We have an amazing opportunity to build homes which create new communities in locations across Bristol.
“I’m particularly proud that our developments will include affordable homes in the numbers that our city really needs.
“We know that local residents know best what will help their neighbourhood to thrive, so we will work closely with those communities to ensure our developments add genuine value to their area.”
All Goram Homes developments are a mix of market and affordable homes, which will include social rent and shared ownership.
They will deliver 40% affordable homes in North West, Inner West, and Inner East Bristol areas of the city, and 30% throughout the rest of the city.
Where possible, numbers of affordable homes will exceed these targets – for example at Romney House, which includes 55% affordable homes.
A share of any profit made will be reinvested back into the city via Bristol City Council.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “It’s really exciting to see Goram Homes’ ambitious plans for the future.
“They will be an important part of the solution to the housing crisis and our recovery from the pandemic. The 600 affordable new homes in their pipeline will help to address one of Bristol’s biggest challenges.”
Goram Homes is now able to begin the process of forming partnerships to build developments on multiple sites across Bristol, in addition to its developments at Romney House and Baltic Wharf.
Romney House recently won two awards at the Bristol Property Awards for its financing deal and sustainability credentials.
One of the central sites, Castle Park Energy Centre, will include a water-source heat pump to help create a cleaner, greener Bristol.
The heat pump – one of the largest pumps in the UK to use harbour water as a heat source – will take water from the nearby floating harbour and use it to provide low-carbon heat and hot water for local businesses and residents.
The heat pump will be designed and installed by Vital Energi and, once the new energy centre is complete, a mixed-use development will be built over it.
Image: PhotoLondonUK/Shutterstock
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