Six architecture practices have been appointed by Bristol City Council to work with community groups in the city to progress affordable housing proposals.
Following a two-stage competition, Archio, Askew Cavanna, Clifton Emery, Emmett Russell, One50 Studio and Transition by Design will work with the groups during a 12-week design process to develop potential projects for small brownfield sites.
The firms will be paired with Bristol Somali Resource Centre, Bristol Canopy Community, Sorrel Housing Co-operative, Home time, and a collaboration between We Can Make and Black South West Network.
The pilot scheme is being run with the hope that community-led housing projects can benefit from early architectural advice as well as inspire and encourage community groups and support innovation. The effectiveness of this approach will be evaluated as a model for other local authorities.
In February, the council launched an expression of interest (EOI) process for the second round of sites identified for disposal for community led housing.
A Local Government Association grant then enabled all the community groups who had submitted EOI’s to be given fully funded architectural design input, to support them to progress their ideas ahead of formal land applications in August 2022.
Cllr Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing delivery and homes, said Bristol City Council was looking forward to seeing how the project would help to shape the groups’ housing proposals.
He said: ”Building homes is a key priority for Bristol City Council. It is widely recognised that achieving our ambitions requires courage, innovation, and collaboration across the city.
“This will help ensure the needs of the city and its citizens are fully understood, and to create mixed and balanced communities.”
Ellen Grist, from the Bristol Housing Festival, added: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to support Bristol City Council with running this architectural competition, and hugely encouraged by the number of architecture practices applying. A brilliant opportunity for everyone involved!
“We look forward to seeing these schemes substantially progressed through this novel LGA funded programme, as well as sharing all we learn through the process to benefit other local authorities”
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