Record 286 affordable homes were built in Bristol between April and September, the highest figure within memory for a six-month period
A general view of Bristol housing and roof tops(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Bristol Live readers have heard that Bristol delivered a record number of affordable homes in the first half of last year, with 286 completions between April and September, the highest mid year total in recent memory. This was well up on 176 in the same period the year before and 227 the year prior.
Of the 286 homes, 54 were built directly by Bristol City Council, placing it ninth nationally for social housing delivery and the highest performing council outside London, according to Inside Housing. Councillors heard the update at a housing policy committee meeting on 19 December.
Housing chair Cllr Barry Parsons called the figures an extraordinary achievement, highlighting the challenges of limited land and high build costs in a densely developed city where most new homes are built on brownfield sites.
Bristol is now among the most expensive cities in the world to build in, prompting the council to seek greater flexibility in its plans while the government pushes for higher annual housing targets.
Efforts are also restarting to share housing demand across the region, with the West of England Combined Authority set to make a third attempt at a regional housing plan involving neighbouring councils.
An average of 481 affordable homes have been built each year over the past four years, peaking at 607 in 2023 to 24. Recently completed schemes include 94 homes in Redcliffe, with 55 already allocated to people on the housing waiting list.
(Image: Bristol City Council )
Commenter Abettertown points out: “And absolutely none of these houses were truly affordable for the people that need them.”
Red93 agrees: “The term ‘affordable homes’ is misleading in itself. I have worked all my adult life, have a Works Pension and the State Pension, and I can’t afford to live anywhere other than in BCC provided Temporary Accommodation. Until something is done about the out and out greed of Bristol landlords, there is going to be a homelessness crisis in this city and it isn’t going to go away.”
Bs3bob adds: “Short of a housing crash, any new homes cannot realistically be much cheaper than the current market value. This is far too high, but even if the government wanted to, it couldn’t suddenly say every new home must be 25% less than current values. The best that we can hope for is an almost flat lining of house values.”
Jake123456 says: “The government has pushed back to BCC saying the current housing plan falls 5,000+ short of requirements. BCC are going to look to push this towards SGC and further afield. Given BCC are Green party led, i’d be interested to know their opinion on the destruction of green belt land for this housing requirement. Do the Green Party advocate for the destruction of protected land, or will they willingly turn a blind eye?”
Jacksthelad02 writes: “Large housing schemes are already being built just beyond Bristol’s boundary, effectively expanding the city. The planned 5,000 homes at Whitchurch Village should be counted in Bristol’s housing numbers. With building costs among the highest in the world, private-led development is unlikely to deliver real affordability. Goram’s contribution is small when set against a 22,000-strong waiting list and the rise in caravan and informal living across the city.”
6470 states: “Everyone knows ’affordable homes’ means over priced flats. Bristol needs houses for families, not rabbit hutches in the sky. But if there is no room for more houses, then tell the government that Bristol is full as it is a small county. Other larger counties have more room. How does someone in the government know what Bristol’s really like? They just look at figures.”
Madvoice77 points out: “At this rate of building, homelessness, sofa surfing and waiting lists will only keep rising year after year. There also needs to be clear public information about who these homes are actually going to. The city keeps comparing itself to London, yet London under Labour has just recorded its worst housebuilding year on record. National building levels are now lower than they were under the Conservatives.”
Do you think these new homes will actually help people struggling to find a place to live, or is Bristol just hitting targets without solving the real problem? Have your say in our comments section.