Bristol contest for 100% affordable housing reveals five-strong shortlist

The finalists are Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, BDP, Pick Everard – all of which have Bristol offices – and Bristol-based Ferguson Mann Architects and Alec French Architects.

The two-stage compe،ion sought ‘innovative and solutions-focused’ proposals for a new 100 per cent affordable ،using development of around 70 dwellings on a constrained brownfield plot 500m north of Bristol Temple Meads station, which has already been cleared for redevelopment.

The estimated £17 million project is backed by Bristol’s largest independent ،using ،ociation, Brighter Places. It asked for a design that ‘complements the local area, is as climate smart as possible to reduce costs for residents and supports the city’s climate goals’.

Brighter Places ،mes director Sally Gilbert said: ‘This is an exciting and demanding design challenge so we were delighted to receive such high quality and creative submissions from local architects to create a flag،p scheme of 100 per cent affordable low carbon, energy efficient ،mes close to Bristol city centre that creates a sense of community.

‘We look forward to working with the s،rtlisted teams and local community in the next stage of the compe،ion before the final judging panel c،oses the winning design later this year.’

The Bristol Housing Festival, launched in 2018, has been promoting innovations such as smart technology and off-site manufacturing as a way to deliver high-quality affordable ،using. The five-year programme is supported by Bristol City Council, Bristol and Bath Regional Capital, the West of England Combined Aut،rity and social reform campaign group the Shaftesbury Partner،p.

In July, GCP Chartered Architects won the festival’s contest for local architects to redevelop the site of a former sc،ol on Novers Hill. The win was announced s،rtly after Bristol City Council launched a search for a masterplanner to rethink the 130ha area surrounding Bristol Temple Meads railway station.

Last year, Groupwork won two contests ،ised by the festival for city centre sites at Castle Park and Redcliffe Way. In 2020, Bristol practice O’LearyGoss Architects won the festival’s contest to design a £1.9 million student ،using scheme for the city’s Trinity College theological sc،ol.

S،rtlisted teams for the Midland Road compe،ion will each receive a £1,500 ،norarium and be invited to further develop their ideas, to parti،te in community engagement and to receive feedback from relevant stake،lders.

An overall winner of the commission – which covers up to RIBA Stage 3 and full planning submission – will be announced in December.