News / Housing
Historic warehouse step closer to being turned into new homes
Early design work is due to start soon on plans that could see Bristol’s first bonded warehouse transformed into dozens of new flats.
As first exclusively revealed by Bristol24/7 in 2021, council-owned housing company Goram Homes is behind the ambitious plans to create homes within the historic building overlooking the New Cut.
A Bond, located between Ashton Avenue bridge and the start of the Chocolate Path, opened as a bonded tobacco warehouse in 1905 and was the first of the three similar brick warehouses to be built.
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Goram Homes confirmed on Tuesday that they will be “starting early design work on plans to transform this iconic grade II listed former tobacco warehouse into new homes”.
“This design work will be done in partnership with the council and align with the Western Harbour placemaking strategy.”
A Bond warehouse is currently used for storage by Bristol City Council – photo: Martin Booth
When the masterplan for the Western Harbour was unveiled in February, Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer said the three bonded warehouses would “remain the dominant features of the skyline to the west of the city”.
Goram Homes hope to turn A Bond “into new homes, mixing market value and affordable apartments in an historic heart of Bristol”.
The neighbouring B Bond, whose uses currently include the Create Centre and Bristol Archives, could also be turned into “new homes or commercial space”; while C Bond the other side of the New Cut on Clift House Road is currently occupied by Safestore self storage.
A Bond with B Bond in the background – photo: Martin Booth
The latest chapter for A Bond comes as Bristol City Council has approved Goram Homes’ business plan for 2025/26, which could see it build hundreds of new homes across the city.
In this period, Goram Homes plans to start work on building 166 new homes at Baltic Wharf on the site of the current caravan park, 209 homes in the first phase of Hengrove Park and 70 homes at the Fosseway development also in Hengrove.
A Bond is included in a list of four so-called ‘brownfield’ sites where Goram Homes will do detailed design work.
The others are at Hengrove Park phase two, Novers Hill in Knowle West and the former St Ursula’s School in Henleaze.
Barry Parsons, chair of the homes & housing delivery committee, said: “Having our own housing company means we can turn council land into much needed new homes with high levels of affordable housing to help transform lives.
“With Goram Homes’ business plan approved, they can get spades in the ground on more development sites this year and make plans for their next phase of housebuilding.
“The company has made incredible progress so far, and this business plan secures even more new homes for Bristol.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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