Work will soon begin on a new 100% affordable development in St George, Bristol, which will deliver 68 high-quality homes for local people.
Abri, a leading housing provider, has partnered with Woodstock Homes to build the homes on Blackswarth Road, St George, Bristol. Abri is investing more than £18 million into the development which will feature a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats across five blocks, and boast views of the River Avon, as well as investment in public open spaces, flood defences and towpath improvements.
The development will be built on a site earmarked for brownfield urban renewal, having previously been used as a concrete fabricator by Bowland Stone. Demolition to the current structure will be completed first, with construction set to begin in early 2026.
All the new homes on the development will be affordable thanks to Abri’s own funding, as well as grant funding from its Strategic Partnership with Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency. 38 of the new homes will be for shared ownership and 30 will be for affordable rent, with two apartments being specially designed to accommodate the needs of wheelchair users.
Felicity Hill, Assistant Land Manager at Abri, said:
“We’re proud to deliver this development at Blackswarth Road in St George, Bristol, which will re-purpose brownfield land to provide much needed affordable new homes. Abri is committed to building 10,000 new homes by 2030, and developments like Blackswarth Road, and partnerships with developers like Woodstock Partnerships are key to achieving that goal. The development is a strong example of collaborative working with Bristol City Council and Homes England, whose support has been instrumental in helping to bring forward these high-quality, affordable homes.”
With more than 22,000 households currently on Bristol City Council’s waiting list for social housing, these new homes play a role in expanding access to secure, high-quality accommodation. Allocation is managed through HomeChoice Bristol, which ensures fair and transparent access based on housing need.
The development is entirely gas-free, heating and energy will be provided through sustainable technologies including communal air source heat pumps and solar panels, and electric vehicle charging will be provided. Each home will be finished to a high specification, supporting Abri’s commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
James Hutchinson, Managing Director of Woodstock Partnerships said:
“We are delighted to partner with Abri on this exciting project. At Woodstock Partnerships we are committed to creating homes that make a real difference to communities, and this development represents a significant step in addressing the demand for affordable housing in the region. We look forward to working closely with Abri to bring this project to life.”
Construction of the new homes is expected to start in early 2026, and the homes are expected to be completed in spring 2028.
