Bristol and London law firm Temple Bright has advised residential developer Crossman Homes on a deal with Yarlington Housing Association to provide social housing in Bristol.
Bath-headquartered Crossman Homes will redevelop the Speedwell Swimming Baths site on Whitefield Road, creating 31 affordable homes for local people, pictured in a CGI.
Speedwell Baths was built in 1937 but closed permanently in 2005 when deemed surplus to requirements by Bristol City Council.
Only the metal roof structure remains of the original interior exists. As a result, conservation and repair of the existing baths was described as “wholly unrealistic” by representatives of Historic Pools of Britain.
Crossman Homes managing director Brad Hughes said: “We are delighted to be leading this exciting development, which will provide much-needed social housing for the area.
“The site has been vacant since 2005 and has become a dangerous eyesore, attracting anti-social behaviour which has been a real concern to the local community.”
Since 2005 two plans to redevelop the site for residential purposes have not gone ahead for financial reasons. Crossman Homes will now build a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on the site, with work expected to start next spring.
Temple Bright real estate partner Amelia Douchet, pictured, who advised Crossman Homes, said: “It was a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in this project, which will rejuvenate a significant local site for a truly creative and practical purpose.”
Yarlington Housing Group head of development Wyn Bevan said: “We are delighted to be working with Crossman Homes and to have received grant funding from Bristol City Council to build 31 much-needed affordable homes.
“As disused, existing developed land we are able to deliver much needed homes and help solve the city’s housing need without putting pressure on an expanding city.”
Bristol City Council cabinet member for housing Cllr Paul Smith added: “The Speedwell Swimming Pool site was sold in 2006, so I am pleased to see it is finally being developed. It is important that we make the best use of land across the city and not allow sites to be left empty for too long.
“There was initially only going to be four affordable properties on this site, so this is another great example of how our grant funding can help support the construction of more affordable housing, which will be available for those who need it most.”
Working closely with Angus Meek Architects and Bristol City Council’s design and planning team, the new five-storey development has been thoughtfully designed to enhance the area, reflecting the style and shape of the existing building in a contemporary way.
Temple Bright was launched by three partners in Bristol in 2010, opening a second office in London in 2013. The firm now has more than 60 partners handling a full range of commercial practice areas across its two offices. These include 14 partners handling commercial property transactions supported by a further 10 partners in the related fields of property litigation, planning and construction.
Co-founder Tim Summers said: “We were delighted to advise Crossman Homes on this landmark project in our home city of Bristol. It is especially rewarding to be involved in a transaction with such tangible local impact and social benefits.”
