Work on a major eco site in south Bristol has reached a landmark stage as topping out on the first home has been completed.
Jessop Park is a joint partnership between LiveWest and Keepmoat Homes and will provide 350 homes.
Located on the former Hartcliffe College Campus, the scheme will include a number of unique features including a new community orchard, wildlife corridor and natural play areas.
Sitting centrally within the development ‘Pollinator Park’ will encourage bats, birds, bees and other insects by providing a wide variety of rich pollinating plants. The orchard, which forms a key part of this exciting new development, will produce fruit for residents to enjoy and public art spaces will enhance its green, open spaces.
In addition to this, a swarm of blue butterflies and its sole food source, the kidney vetch plant, were relocated to another area on the site, ensuring they are preserved and able to thrive as the development progresses.
As part of a partnership with Bristol City Council – which will see the local authority benefit from a Renewable Heat Incentive – ground source heat pumps will be used on the site which include 1 and 2-bedroom apartments as well as 2, 3 and 4-bedroom houses.
Furthermore, almost a third of the properties will be available as affordable housing through either social rent or shared ownership schemes accessible to families on lower incomes.
Russell Baldwinson, LiveWest’s Executive Director of Development, said: “We are delighted that work is progressing well at Jessop Park.
“The development will provide a wide range of homes, including much needed affordable housing in an attractive, exciting and vibrant new setting.
“Working with Keepmoat Homes and Bristol City Council, we have had a common goal of creating a high-quality new housing development which will provide new residents moving into this exiting project with a great place to live.
“Sustainability sits very much at the heart of our organisation and being involved in a project which places importance on the environmental credentials of the project in terms of public space as well as renewable sources for heating homes is vitally important for both LiveWest and our customers.”
Keepmoat Homes has confirmed that the first showhome at Jessop Park will open in February with the first homeowners moving in during March.
Dan Haines, Regional Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: “Work continues apace and we’re delighted that we have now topped out on our first property, with our showhome opening in February.
“Jessop Park isn’t your typical new home development, it has been designed to be something special with habitat for wildlife and community use.
“We have a strong track record of delivering new homes across the country, particularly on brownfield land such as this. We’ve brought our experience to this development and, working with all the partners, we’re breathing new life into the area, supporting the regeneration of South Bristol and building much-needed new homes.”