Bristol developer Cubex has appointed national contractor Willmott Dixon to build 194 homes at its Finzels Reach development in the city’s largest build-to-rent residential deal.
Construction of the £46m scheme is set to begin in February, with Willmott Dixon already on site for preparation work.
The homes will be in two buildings in Hawkins Lane, below, and Georges Wharf, bottom, and will be a combination of one and two-bedroom apartments. They are expected to appeal in particular to ‘generation rent’ – young professionals with a mobile lifestyle. 
The scheme is part of Cubex’s vision to develop high-quality spaces and create a thriving, balanced community at Finzels Reach, the site of a former brewery fronting onto Bristol’s iconic Floating Harbour opposite Castle Park.
Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, is funding the project and will own and operate it when complete in 2019.
Willmott Dixon is also constructing Aurora, a 95,000 sq ft, Grade A speculative office building at Finzels Reach, which is due for completion by the end of 2017.
Cubex, director Gavin Bridge said: “This is another exciting step for us. Work is moving apace across Finzels Reach, with our flagship office building Aurora underway, the new S-shaped bridge installed and set to open to the public in early 2017 and work starting soon on our build-to-rent scheme. We are really keen to do more deals of this nature within Bristol and across the South West and South Wales.”
Willmott Dixon’s Bristol office – one of 30 operated by the group across the UK – has been behind some of the region’s biggest developments including the Colston Hall foyer, Keynsham town regeneration, the University Technical College in North Bristol, and the University of Bristol’s Centre for Nano Science and Quantum Information. 
Willmott Dixon managing director for Bristol, Neal Stephens, said: “Creating Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf apartments together with Aurora offices will deliver a thriving new community in the heart of Bristol city centre. Led by our committed and local team, we are looking forward to making these exciting plans come to life.”
In total,Finzels Reach will include 440 apartments, two Grade A office buildings, a 168-bedroom Premier Inn and a host of cafes, restaurants and a microbrewery when it is completed. It is one of the largest mixed-use developments in the South West.
