News / Housing
Community-led development gets the green light
A planning application for new homes to be built in Hengrove has been approved.
Community organisation WeCanMake, based in Knowle West, aims to build six new houses and a dedicated community area on a former garage site on Rodfords Mead.
These houses will be allocated to local people who are registered on Bristol City Council’s HomeChoice waiting list.
The project hopes to reinforce community and sustainability – photo: Ibolya Feher & WeCanMake
The area was given to the WeCanMake community land trust by Bristol City Council in 2020 as part of their initiative to allocate disused spaces to community-led organisations.
The development will use locally sourced and recycled materials, and has been designed collaboratively by local residents and stakeholders.
WeCanMake said this will deliver “higher densities of low-carbon affordable homes, and swift pace, with strong community support”.
Projections show what the housing on Rodfords Mead could look like – photo: Ibolya Feher & WeCanMake
Chair of Bristol City Council’s Homes and Housing Development Committee, councillor Barry Parsons, said: “Bristol has an urgent need for more affordable homes and I welcome the commitment and innovation that WeCanMake brings to the city to help meet this need.
“This is an example of community-led housing at its very best and I look forward to seeing new homes and community facilities developed at Rodfords Mead.”
This project follows WeCanMake’s construction of two houses in back gardens in Knowle West, in an attempt to highlight ‘microsites’ as a potential solution to the housing crisis.
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In September, housing minister Steve Reed reinforced government hopes to build 1.5 million new homes.
The team at WeCanMake are calling for these homes to also be affordable, sustainable, and locally welcomed.
Melissa Mean, director of WeCanMake, said: “The 1.5 million target needs to be about much more than just delivering units.
“It’s about creating a nation of neighbours where the process of making new homes creates opportunities for social connection between diverse people.
“Our Rodford Dreams project shows what is possible when communities lead, unlocking neglected bits of land for more homes and the essential social infrastructure to support people to live well.”
Main photo: Ibolya Feher & WeCanMake
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