Housing Council developer drops plan to build on old gas works site

A HOUSING developer owned by Bristol City Council has dropped plans to build new homes on old gas works after discovering underground gas pipes.

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

The homes were planned for Dovercourt Road in Lockleaze, but these will likely no longer be built due to the gas pipes.

The gas works site has been left empty for years, but used to be home to large gasometers.

Goram Homes, which was set up by the council in 2018, is planning to build thousands of houses and flats elsewhere in Bristol over the next few years, including a new plot in Bedminster Green.

The latest pipeline of developments and the company’s business plan were approved by councillors on the strategy and resources policy committee on Monday. This included removing the old gas works site from the plans, due to the gas pipes as well as a large sewer.

Louise Davidson, head of housing delivery at the council, said: “During the last year, Goram carried out a lot of due diligence on that site and understood that there were significant site constraints, which would significantly reduce the residential capacity of the land. That no longer works for Goram's model of delivery.

“The utility surveys have shown there are multiple constraints on the site, including gas easements which require a three-metre buffer zone; significant risk of earth contamination; and there's a strategic sewer with an additional buffer zone which would need to be retained.

“As we've looked at the site, we've seen a shrinking of the land available for development”