Countryside wins 1,400-home Bristol deal

Partnerships housebuilder Countryside has been picked to build the 1,400 home Hengrove Park project in joint venture with Bristol council-owned developer Goram Homes.

Countryside Partnerships, which was last November bought out by housebuilder Vistry, said it had formed a 50/50 joint venture with Goram to deliver the major site in south Bristol, half of which will be affordable housing.

Goram Homes, which was set up in 2018 by Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, was handed control of the Hengrove Park project after the council reportedly abandoned its own procurement exercise for the site.

Countryside’s deal with Goram comes after housebuilder Hill was awarded the contract to build the 53-home first phase of the project last autumn, work on which has already started.

Countryside said the scheme, consultation on which is already underway for the 200-home phase 1b, will include a 22-hectare a public park, including play areas, a sports pavilion, and a new community space, as well as a new energy centre.

The deal is the second Countryside has secured with Goram, following the 268-home One Lockleaze project, which is already underway. Countryside said it will start work on the Hengrove Park scheme next year, subject to securing reserved matters planning permission.

Stephen Teagle, chief executive of Countryside Partnerships, said he was “delighted” to be working again with Goram Homes. “It is a fantastic example of the strengths and capabilities of our business - by working in partnership with Goram Homes, we can now provide mixed-tenure homes at scale and transform this brownfield site into a thriving new neighbourhood”, he said.

Stephen Baker, managing director of Goram Homes, said: “With its large public park, new community facilities, and homes looking out over beautifully landscaped green spaces, Hengrove Park will be a thriving community for generations to come.”