News / Community housing
Farm risks losing community ownership after sale falls through
A farm, events space and housing project is at risk of losing its community ownership after its sale fell through.
Bridge Farm, on the edge of Eastville, was bought by Ashley Vale Action Group (AVAG) in 2018 with funds borrowed from supporters.
However, AVAG is keen to repay those supporters and as such hoped to sell it to Bristol Community Land Trust (CLT).
That transfer has now fallen through due to Bristol CLT not having the resources to take it on.
Now the community hopes to save the site by setting up a business model where the public can become members and maybe buy shares in it.
In a newsletter to supporters, Bridge Farm put a call out for people who could help get the new model (called a Community Benefit Society) set up, and for fans to become members to help the project get funding.
The site was bought by AVAG in 2018 – photo: Molly Pipe
“Time is of the essence and we need to move fast to secure the funding” it said. “There is a very real chance the finance gets allotted to a different project.”
“It would seem a terrible shame to lose the farm now that outline planning has just been granted,” it added.
Jackson Moulding, a director of AVAG, stressed the importance of keeping it from private hands.
“Bridge Farm is a hidden gem,” he said. “This is such a beautiful area, with the south facing slopes and beautiful barns; and when people walk up the cobbled street [they find] a really special place.”
“Let’s find a way to keep it in community ownership.”
It had until now been an exciting time for Bridge Farm, with planning permission granted for a 12-home cohousing community.
Gigs, workshops and volunteering sessions have proved popular, with a May Day celebration coming up.
But it’s not the first time trouble has hit.
When AVAG borrowed money from supporters to buy the farm, it didn’t expect it would take so long to get planning permission and to start repaying those loans.
“Because it’s taken a long time, that’s put a lot of stress on the organisers of the project,” Jackson said. “It’s been quite draining.”
Eager to return at least some of the money, Bridge Farm sold off the farmhouse to a family who shared the project’s values.
While it was “sad to sell”, Moulding said it was worth it to start repayments.
“We have a commitment to ensure these generous lenders get paid back,” he said.
“They’re not people who go around investing. They’re normal people who care about this project.”
Bristol24/7 has contacted Bristol CLT for a comment
Main photo: Jackson Moulding
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