The city of Bristol has such a wide array of things to offer that it is no surprise that living there is something that the whole spectrum of house-hunters is currently considering, from first-time buyers to growing families and retirees.
We have collated some of the latest news and offers from the new homes market in Bristol and the surrounding area.
Crest Nicholson has launched the next phase of its Bristol development, Highfields at Brooklands Park, which is a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in Harry Stoke, around six miles from Bristol city centre. Once complete, Brooklands Park will feature a wide range of houses and apartments set across a 65-acre site and with a wildlife corridor complementing a large number of amenities on its doorstep, with retail parks, fast food outlets, gyms, supermarkets, a primary school site and a nursery all nearby.
'Gardenia' house type
Ralph Hawkins, managing director at Crest Nicholson South West, commented: “With more people looking for flexible layouts, larger living spaces, home offices and gardens, our new houses at Brooklands Park are perfect for modern purchasers. This development has already proven very popular with a wide variety of buyers – from young professionals to growing families, and those looking to downsize. This is in large part thanks to the fantastic location and spacious layouts, and we’re excited to be launching this next phase.”
Among the new choice of homes, the four-bedroom ‘Gardenia’ offers residents the flexibility to personalise their home and create a home office. For those who love to entertain, an open-plan kitchen, family and dining area provides the perfect space, with a patio door to the garden making the outside an extension of the house. The property is spread across three floors, with another living room on the first floor.
Prices start at £206,000 and selected homes are available to purchase through the government-backed Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme, and Crest Nicholson’s own Part Exchange scheme. Find out more about Brooklands Park from Crest Nicholson.
Heritage is seen across all parts of the city and in St Werburghs, a historic dye works and laundry is being transformed into contemporary new homes by developers Galliard Homes and Acorn Property Group. Launched last year, Brooks Dye Works offers 81 new homes, each with a private garden, and direct access to open green space in the adjacent Mina Road Park. There will be a mixture of two-bedroom houses, three-bedroom over-garage duplexes, and three- and four-bedroom houses centred around the landmark 19th-century chimney.
This month, the developers have revealed a plaque on the original Victorian chimney paying tribute to the site’s rich history, unveiled by Mr Simon Brooks, the 90-year-old great-great-grandson of the founder Alfred Brooks. He spent his career at the company, including 28 years as its chairman. This plaque explains the site’s history for future generations and the red brick chimney’s ingenious use of white bricks for the ‘Brooks Dye Works’ lettering, meaning it never has to be repainted.
Mr Simon Brooks at Brookes Dye Works
Said Mr Brooks: “The site is totally different now from its history as an industrial enterprise but the land has been well used. I am very glad the developers have put the plaque up on the chimney, people must wonder about the chimney and this really adds something. Historically, Brooks was a community with our workers living for two or three generations in the area. The new development offers a multiplicity of homes, in such a location, it is likely to create a new thriving community which is great news. It is wonderful to see the history preserved for the next generation.”
Robin Squire, regional managing director of Acorn’s Bristol office, said: “It is wonderful to pay tribute to the site’s history for the new community that will live here as our reimagined Brooks Dye Works comes to life.”
Prices for the Phase 2 of homes at Brooks Dye Works, ready to move into this summer, start from £385,000 for a two-bedroom home, from £460,000 for a three-bedroom home and from £490,000 for a four-bedroom home. Select properties in Phase 1 are available with a Keyworker Discount. The show home is available to visit by appointment. Find out more from Galliard Homes/Acorn Property Group.
Specialist development Churchill Retirement Living has now sold 60% of the new homes coming to its New Pooles Lodge site in Fishponds. When completed, it will comprise 41 one- and two-bedroom retirement apartments, well-located for the local shops, restaurants and amenities. Fishponds is also well connected to the rest of the city, meaning that this is a great choice for active retirees.
New Pooles Lodge
Right now, there’s a special deal on Apartment 18. Subject to terms and conditions, Churchill is offering to pay the service charge for two years and help with moving costs. It is a one-bedroom, east-facing apartment situated on the first floor. It benefits from a fully integrated kitchen, and the carpets, curtains, fireplace and light fittings are all included in the sale. There’s also the bonus of a Juliet balcony.
Prices start at £246,950. Find out more about New Pooles Lodge from Churchill Retirement Living.
In the south of Bristol, right now prices start at £339,950 at Urban Quarter, where Kier Living is offering a range of contemporary-design three- and four-bedroom houses. Part of the Hengrove Park regeneration project, Urban Quarter is a development of 261 new homes, a variety of two-, three- and four-bedroom house types.
Urban Quarter
The wider project, which is set in four zones with distinctive character, has provided a lot to create a community, with things like a children’s play area, skate park, leisure centre, hospital and South Bristol Skills College. There are also established well-regarded primary and secondary schools in the area. Prices at Urban Quarter currently range from £339,950 to £395,000. Find out more at www.kierliving.co.uk.
For people looking to take a first step on the property ladder, but who think that saving a deposit or finding a mortgage impossible, should investigate the Home Reach initiative, available at some developments in and around Bristol.
Home Reach is a scheme run by housing provider heylo in partnership with a number of housebuilders across England. Open to first-time buyers who meet the qualifying criteria, it’s a way of purchasing a share of their new home (usually starting at 50%) and paying a subsidised rent on the remainder. It’s their home, but the process requires a much smaller deposit and mortgage than purchasing outright. They can buy further shares as their budget allows, until they own 100%.
Decourcy House
One current example is an apartment at Decourcy House, within easy reach of the city centre. The available one-bedroom property has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living area, fitted kitchen and integrated appliances, double master bedroom, video entry system and secure communal bike store. It is priced at £95,000 for a 50% share (based on a full market value of £190,000. Find out more about new homes currently available through Home Reach.
Case study: Holly and Charlie
Holly Williams and her partner Charlie Mallock moved into their new apartment in Wapping Wharf Living in April 2021, just as spring arrived and the Covid restrictions began to lift.
Holly, 23, a children’s nurse at Bristol Children’s Hospital, says she and Charlie, also 23, chose Wapping Wharf because of its fantastic location, which means for the first time ever they can both walk to work and then make the most of all the harbourside and city centre has to offer on evenings and weekends.
Having lived briefly in Filton and on the Gloucester Road before buying their one-bedroom apartment in Hope Quay, Holly says it’s an incredibly friendly and sociable community. The couple say they’ve already made connections with lots of other residents and are planning a get together once restrictions are lifted further.
Holly said of new home: “Our apartment is fantastic – we’re loving the big windows in the living room and bedroom which make it really light and airy. It’s much more spacious than the last places we’ve lived in and the best thing is, it’s all one big living area, which is exactly what we wanted. It makes it much more sociable – you can be cooking dinner and having a chat at the same time.”
A range of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments across two buildings at Wapping Wharf Living currently range from £257,500 to £550,000. Find out more at wappingwharfliving.co.uk.
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