Luxury apartments take shape as part of Harbourside transformation
ONE of Bristol’s Harbourside’s oldest buildings is being transformed into luxury apartments. Brandon Yard, which has sat derelict for more than 40 years, contains the shells of two grade-II listed gas-works buildings, West Purifier House and Engine House. These old buildings will be restored and another building, New Oculus House, will be created to become 58 one, two and three bedroom homes, with the redevelopment due to be completed by next spring. A topping-out ceremony marked a key moment in the project’s progress, as the roof of the main building was successfully installed. Future homeowners were given the chance to explore their new abodes at the ceremony, while Bristol’s Lord Mayor Cleo Lake also visited the site and praised developers Acorn Property Group for bringing the previously-derelict area back into good use. The transformation of Brandon Yard could signal the beginning of the end of the huge period of regeneration which has brought sweeping changes to Bristol Harbourside during the past four decades. The area, which overlooks the ss Great Britain, is one of the last parts of the harbour to be redeveloped. One of the most significant changes in recent years is the arrival of numerous blocks of luxury flats. The flats at Brandon Yard range from £295,000 to an eye-watering £850,000 in price and although the Lord Mayor admitted the development would not help to solve Bristol’s housing crisis, it would help to fund affordable homes elsewhere in the city. Planning permission for Brandon Yard’s redevelopment, which was granted last year, included a requirement for developers to pay £364,182 towards building affordable housing elsewhere in Bristol, as well as £43,788 towards transport improvements.