Property.qxp_Layout 1 21/03/2018 14:35 Page 3
PROPERTY
The open-plan homes – some with roof terraces and plenty with outside space – start from £234,950, with the help-to-buy scheme available (contact Savills for information). Then there’s Picture House Court in Bedminster; a collection of 26 new homes – 80% of which have now been reserved – including apartments, duplexes and three and four-bedroom houses with en-suite and upper floor terraces in select homes, as well as gardens and parking. Prices start from £379,950 – contact Ocean. • savills.co.uk; oceanhome.co.uk
North Bristol Located next to the Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground, Loft House in Bishopston is a Grade II listed, 1850s building of imposing symmetrical structure with deep, overhanging eaves and dressed Bath stone features embodying the confidence and certainty of the Victorian era. Originally designed as one of many orphanages run by Christian evangelist George Muller, before it was named Brunel House and used as a college, it’s now being converted into 60 one, two and three-bedroom houses and apartments, with parking for some. As well as the traditional period exterior, we love the interior style – think elegant sash windows, mezzanines and double-height ceilings, plus solid wood parquet flooring, original ornate ironwork grilles and impressive cantilevered stone staircases in communal areas as well as two landscaped courtyards. Phase two has now been released, with prices from £222,500. Over in Shirehampton, Brigstowe Apartments’ last two-bedroom apartments are up for grabs, from £162,500. The 10-home development in Shirehampton Village has been given a high-quality finish with engineered oak flooring in the living spaces and bedrooms, glossy kitchens and gas central heating (contact Ocean for more information). • oceanhome.co.uk; savills.co.uk Heard of Bristol-based Bright Green Futures and its flagship self-build project, Water Lilies? An innovative and pioneering community scheme in Kings Weston’s park and woodland setting near Blaise Castle, it’s promising to break the mould of what conventional housing developers offer. According to the developer, 53% of UK residents say they’d like to build their own home, but so far this option has only been available to very few. They want to change this and challenge the conventional approach to new-build housing with their 33-home development driven by sustainable principles and giving buyers the opportunity to design and build homes bespoke to their needs.
Brandon Yard is the conclusion of a massive regeneration programme on the docks
100 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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APRIL 2018
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No 166
Founding director Steffie Broer formed the company based on findings from her award-winning doctoral research at The Centre for Urban Sustainability and Resilience at UCL. She became South West Champion for Energy Efficiency in 2016 for driving sustainability values within the company and developing solutions in its housing projects that address climate change and benefit resident wellbeing. “For many people it’s very difficult to self-build because they’re starting from scratch, they’ve got to learn everything,” she says, on the subject of facilitating self-building as part of a community. “Our model basically hand-holds the group through the process and explains it. On building projects there are usually some problems to solve but they’re minimised, and we’re there to really help and talk people through them. I’ve never met someone whose problem is bigger than the savings they can make or the improved outcome they get. You don’t just get your dream home but a lovely community because the people who are attracted to our proposition all share the same values.” Bright Green Futures will build the shell of each Water Lilies home to the exact design of the customer and so that it knits into the existing landscape – converting an old reservoir into underground parking – and provide training, mentoring support and recommended contractors so you can self-build with confidence. Building as a group, residents can save money through bulk buying, help each other and develop new skills as they go – there’s also a support package through which you can qualify for a self-build mortgage via a lending panel set up with Buildstore. • brightgreenfutures.co.uk Redrow Homes has just launched its latest development on the site of the former Frenchay Hospital, with the first properties due for completion this autumn. Frenchay Gardens – ideal for commuters, with good links to the M4 and M5 motorways as well as Bristol’s railway stations – will consist of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and fourbedroom detached and semi-detached houses, with 98 private properties and 16 plots dedicated to social housing. “Frenchay Gardens will be a beautiful development providing much needed new homes,” said Charlotte Newnes, area sales manager for Redrow South West. “And anyone interested in finding out more and seeing the properties first-hand can visit the show homes at the next door Frenchay Park development.” What’s currently available? A selection of four-bedroom semi-detached homes from £409,995. • redrow.co.uk