The troubled development in Hengrove has hit more choppy waters
06:00, 15 May 2026
The site of Goram Homes and Vistry’s development at the former New Fosseway School in Hengrove(Image: Joe Brown)
Complaints have poured in about a South Bristol development that is plagueing its neighbours with dust.
Now Bristol City Council’s planning enforcement team has summoned the authority’s own builder to a planning enforcement meeting due to ongoing issues on the site.
People living near the Fosseway development, off Wells Road in Hengrove, have made a series of complaints regarding the management of the building site.
Since construction on the first phase of the planned 200-home estate began in March 2025, residents have been particularly angry about the large amount of dust generated by the site spreading to their properties and neighbouring roads and with people regularly working outside approved hours.
The council has already carried out one investigation into how the site is managed, which concluded in December last year.
On March 2, the council opened a second planning enforcement case against authority-owned builder Goram Homes and its development partner Vistry. Since then, complaints have continued to pour in from residents, and now a City Hall enforcement team has now scheduled a meeting with the site’s developers to try to address the ongoing issues with the Fosseway.
Councillors and bosses from Goram Homes and housebuilder Vistry celebrate work starting at the site in March 2025(Image: Goram Homes)
“To date with this second case we have attempted to secure site specific remedies to the issues that have been raised in the complaints,” a letter from a member of the planning enforcement team seen by Bristol Live said.
“It is clear to me (based on continuing complaints) that these remedies have not been effective. Another meeting with the developer and their key construction representative will now be scheduled after which we will provide a fuller update to all parties recorded in the case.”
Councillor Andrew Brown, chair of the economy and skills committee, said the meeting had been arranged to ‘emphasise the importance’ of managing the site properly.
“Planning enforcement officers are continuing to review the terms of the Site Specific Construction Environment Management Plan as part of its ongoing consideration of the Fosseway development, with a particular focus on dust suppression and hours of work on site,” he said. “A meeting with the developers is being arranged to emphasise the importance of abiding with the agreed plan.”
Residents on the Wells Road in Hengrove have continually complained about how work is carried out on the site(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The Fosseway development is being built in two phases on the site of the former New Fosseway School. Stage one of the project involves the construction of 130 new homes, half of which will be affordable housing, with the first of those homes due to be completed imminently.
The second phase, the construction of 70 new affordable homes for the elderly, will be a joint venture between Goram and Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. A detailed application for phase two is currently being considered for planning permission.
CGI artist’s impression of Fosseway Phase Two, which is currently being assessed for planning permission(Image: Anchor)
Despite the unresolved issues related to the site, and the ongoing complaints from neighbours, Goram Homes managing director Stephen Baker said the developers were committed to running a tight ship. Goram Homes is a subsidiary of Bristol Holding Ltd, which is wholly owned by Bristol City Council.
“We would like to reassure the community that we, and our development partner Vistry, remain committed to being a considerate neighbour as building work progresses at The Fosseway,” he said.
“This building work is being undertaken to bring forward 130 new homes, 50% of which will be affordable housing. These homes will directly address the urgent need for high-quality, affordable housing in Bristol.
“We have a formal complaint process in place and have dealt with all complaints to date.”