PLATFORM_ Announces Planning Committee Approval for Landmark 352-unit Bristol Build-to-Rent Scheme in Key City Centre Regeneration Area

PLATFORM_ is delighted to confirm that the Bristol City Council planning committee has unanimously approved resolution to grant planning permission for its major new Build to Rent (BTR) scheme in Bristol. This marks a significant step forward in the regeneration of this key city-centre site which PLATFORM_ acquired with its investors in summer 2024.

The project team will now work closely with the council to document the Section 106 agreement, finalise certain flood matters to be dealt with via delegated powers and progress detailed design work. The development is on track to tender for a main contractor in Q2 next year, ahead of a Gateway 2 submission at the end of 2026.

The scheme will deliver 352 high-quality studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, directly addressing the acute demand for rental housing in Bristol. 71 of the homes (20%) will be provided at Local Housing Allowance rents, contributing meaningfully to the city’s affordable housing targets, while 10% have been designed for wheelchair accessibility.

Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), the scheme brings new life to a former sawmill site that served the city for more than a century, transforming it into a vibrant and welcoming residential community.
Less than five minutes’ walk from Cabot Circus and other key city-centre destinations, the development accelerates the realisation of the Frome Gateway Regeneration and introduces a new generation of living to the city at a time when it is urgently needed. With only five existing Build to Rent schemes in Bristol, this project enhances the supply of high-quality, professionally managed homes to the local market.

At the heart of the scheme is a new riverside park that opens access to the River Frome to the public for the first time in generations as well as facilitating a new pedestrian bridge across the river enhancing connectivity for the area.

The project embodies the ambitions of the Frome Gateway Regeneration by prioritising high-quality green infrastructure, walkability, and inclusive public spaces, creating a neighbourhood that is deeply connected to both nature and urban life. With extensive planting, new trees, play areas and two rooftop terraces, the development offers a rare sense of openness in such a central location, enhancing biodiversity while providing welcoming places for residents and the wider community to meet, relax and come together.

That spirit of community has already begun to take shape long before construction. By partnering with beloved Bristol cultural institutions Alfresco Disco and The Jam Jar, the site has hosted events that brought more than 2,000 people through the gates in a single day, reintroducing this historic sawmill plot to the city and celebrating its next chapter. These early collaborations signal the project’s core ambition: not simply to deliver new homes, but to seed a lively, inclusive and culturally rooted neighbourhood from day one.

Hadie Abido Director at Jam Jar said “It’s been amazing to see this space opened for the community, and to be able to bring people together on a site that’s about to start a new chapter. Working with the team has been a real pleasure, they’ve welcomed our ideas, supported local culture, and shown a genuine commitment to building something that feels rooted in Bristol. The energy at the events was incredible, and we’re excited to see this place grow into a vibrant new neighbourhood for the city.”

Sustainability sits at the heart of the scheme. All apartments are designed to achieve EPC B, with the commercial and community areas targeting BREEAM Excellent.

Economically, the project is expected to provide a major boost to the city. Construction is anticipated to support more than 1,100 direct job-years and around 1,400 indirect job-years, with the completed development generating an estimated over £2 million in direct GVA annually.

“We are thrilled with the planning committee’s decision, which represents a significant milestone for this important city centre regeneration site,” said Jean-Marc Vandevivere, Chief Executive of PLATFORM_. “This project will deliver a new generation of homes, exceptional public realm, and high-quality amenities to Bristol, helping to meet the city’s housing needs while creating a thriving new riverside neighbourhood. We look forward to progressing the next steps in partnership with the council and our advisors as we move toward delivery.”

Matt Willcock, Director of Development at PLATFORM_ said “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the strong collaboration between Bristol City Council, the Environment Agency, AHMM, and our wider professional team. Together, we’ve shaped a scheme that reflects the ambitions of the Frome Gateway Regeneration; opening the riverfront, delivering new affordable and accessible homes, and creating high-quality public spaces for the city. We’re grateful for the partnership and excited to move into the next phase.”