A new development of 15 homes at Oldbury Court in Fishponds is now ready to build and bring much-needed affordable housing to the area.

Led by Bristol housing association, Brighter Places, the development on Delabere Avenue will create 15 two-bed social rent flats, including two flats for wheelchair users to support independent living.

Originally planned for early 2020, the scheme was interrupted by the national and global challenges of Covid-19 and resulting impacts on the building sector and developers.  The previous contractor sadly went into administration and EG Carter and Co Ltd have now been appointed as development contractor.

The project will also support the local community by creating new facilities for the neighbouring Oldbury Court Out of School Club (OCOSC). This includes a ramp for wheelchair users visiting the club and a new, secure parking area for the club’s vans.

The project has been supported by affordable housing funding from Homes England and Bristol City Council, plus additional funding from Brighter Places.  Preparatory works started on site in late April and the scheme is scheduled for completion in winter 2026.

The flats will be built using carbon-reducing technologies to create comfortable and energy-efficient homes that help our residents reduce costs on their energy bills. A fabric-first approach will use building materials to reduce energy consumption plus Air Source Heat Pumps and Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems to reduce moisture and keep the homes warm.

Anna Klimczak, CEO of Brighter Places, said, “After the frustrating and complicated impacts of Covid-19 on the affordable housing sector we are delighted that work to bring these homes to Oldbury Court can now start. At Brighter Places, we focus on contributing to communities by creating homes for local people that they are proud to call home. We are committed to doing our bit towards solving the housing crisis by building new homes for social rent. We also want to ensure we build homes that contribute to the environment and are as energy efficient as possible. We would like to thank the local community and our partners for their patience, persistence and help in these affordable homes can now become a reality.”

Phil Barnes, the pre-construction Director at EG Carters and Co Ltd said, “We’re excited to begin construction work at Oldbury Court where we’ll be delivering 15 much-needed new homes. It’s fantastic to be working in partnership with Brighter Places on a project that will have such a positive impact on the local community. We look forward to bringing these homes to life and continuing our strong relationship with the team at Brighter Places.”

Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Policy Committee at Bristol City Council said: “I really welcome these 15 social rented homes that are being delivered by Brighter Places at Oldbury Court.  Having a good quality, safe home is one of the most important influences on a person’s wellbeing and quality of life. These homes are going to be affordable to live in and affordable to run, due to the commitment Brighter Places have made towards sustainable delivery in the city. The delivery of affordable housing one is one of our key objectives and I thank Brighter Places for the determination and perseverance they have shown to make sure these homes get built; despite the huge number of challenges, they have faced. I look forward to the day we see tenants move in and start their new lives in these fabulous new homes.”

Homes England’s Harriet Powell, the Senior Manager for Affordable Housing Delivery, added, “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.  This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme does just that, enabling Brighter Places to build 15 much needed new homes the people of Bristol can be proud of.”

Ebi Cole, Chair of the Board of Directors at Oldbury Court Out of School Charity said “We are pleased to be working closely with the team at Brighter Places and EG Carter as they develop these much-needed affordable homes in Oldbury Court. At Oldbury Court Out of School Club Charity, our top priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children in our care. Brighter Places have shown a commitment to making improvements to our surrounding area that will benefit our entire community, especially the families will call this new development, and we look forward to seeing it become a reality.”