Work to begin on major 1,435-home development

The first homes of a major 1,435-property development on a former airfield, which includes an athletics track and cycle club, are set to be built later this year.

Bristol City Council has now signed a deal with developer Goram Homes and construction company Vistry to deliver phase one of the Hengrove Park development.

This will see 209 homes, including 104 for social rent and shared ownership, and a substantial portion of a new public park, playing pitches and a sports pavilion being built.

Bristol City Council's councillor Barry Parsons, chair of the homes and housing delivery committee, said the deal "marks a major step forward for south Bristol".

Campaigners have been fighting for the development to include plans to regenerate the site's Whitchurch Athletics Track.

But no decision on the track's future has yet to be made, and the results of a council financial study into the implications of redeveloping the track are expected in July.

The homes, of which half will be affordable housing, will be centred around a new 22.2 hectare public park - roughly the size of 30 football pitches.

"This park will include significant investment in sports infrastructure, including new playing pitches and community facilities, providing the community with high-quality, inclusive spaces for recreation and wellbeing for many years to come," said Parsons.

The development will also feature a community building, sports pavilion, shops and a business space.

New transport connections will be created, as well as footways and cycleways.

Whitchurch Athletics Track opened in 1973 and was decommissioned in 2010 due to its age, condition and decline in use.

Campaigners have been working with the council to find a way to regenerate the track, while still building the houses.

More than 7,000 people have signed petitions to save the track and cycling centre.

John Pearce, founder of the campaign to regenerate the track, said campaigners remain optimistic.

"The fact that the council have agreed to give us that period of time, we're still optimistic that there can be a revision of plans and the track can be regenerated.

"Until construction equipment moves in and the track is no more, which we hope doesn't happen, we see that there's still an opportunity. So we're going to keep campaigning and believing for the best," he said.

In a previous response, council leaders said they remained "open to discussions with local residents" about how it can provide track facilities in south Bristol.

Stephen Baker, managing director of Goram Homes, said Hengrove Park will be a mixed-tenure, neighbourhood which ultimately creates more than 1,430 new homes over the next decade.

"Hengrove Park's character will be defined by its high-quality park and green spaces that support health, wellbeing and community life, helping to create a sense of place," he added.

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