Work on a pioneering pilot project that could help ease Bristol’s housing shortage has reached its final stage of construction.
The innovative Gap House concept, which has been developed in the city, is being used to turn a disused council-owned garage plot in Horfield into much-needed affordable housing, pictured.
Designed by multidisciplinary design practice BDP’s Bristol office, the nine one-bedroom, two-storey sustainable homes are now taking shape on the site.
The properties are being built using modern methods of construction (MMC), with the high-performance structural insulated panels (SIPs) manufactured off site, before being brought to Bristol by lorry before being carefully lifted into position by crane.
The first of these panels, which will be used to create the external walls of the homes, have recently been lifted onto site and are now being installed in stages due to its constrained nature, pictured.
The installation of the internal walls, floors and roofs is also underway. 
BDP is working with the Bristol office of regional building contractor Beard and London-based SIP specialist Etopia, on the homes, which have been commissioned by Bristol City Council’s housing development team and funded by its housing and landlord service.
Bristol has a strong reputation as a testbed for housing innovative and the city’s flagship housing festival, launched in 2018, has positioned the city as a global ‘living exhibition’ for new design and construction techniques.
BDP originally showcased its Gap House design at the first festival as a proposed way of helping to meet the city’s acute need for housing and revitalising neighbourhoods.
The concept was refined as part of an Innovate UK programme supported by the festival, designed to explore the potential for MMC housing.
This year it featured in a guide for local authorities launched at the festival. Called Social Rent Housing: The MMC Playbook, the publication looks at how to unlock land and overcome challenges for successful creation of new housing. 
Each home built using the Gap House concept will be highly insulated to support minimal heating requirements and will use low-energy lighting and renewable energy generated by solar PV panels and air source heat pumps, resulting in low environmental impact and running costs.
Large windows will allow for maximum natural light while the entrance to each property has been designed to promote a ‘front porch culture’, with green space and outdoor seating in front of each home to encourage social interaction and community cohesion.
Bristol City Council homes and housing delivery committee chair Cllr Barry Parsons said: “The council welcomes the progress of these innovative new homes for social rent, which will help meet housing need in the city.
“Utilising small pieces of brownfield land to deliver much needed affordable homes is a priority for the council and the learning from this, and other similar projects, will help us make better use of our smaller sites for affordable housing delivery.”
BDP Bristol studio associate architect Adam Darby added: “The Gap House has the potential to bring huge benefits to cities up and down the country where there are thousands of disused garage plots sitting empty, which could be transformed into much-needed housing.
“Having first conceived the idea of the Gap House some years ago, it is fantastic to see the project coming to fruition and nearing the moment when people can start moving in.
“A once derelict site will have a new lease of life, revitalising the neighbourhood and providing high-quality homes.”
Matt Cooper, director of Beard’s Bristol office, said the Gap House design was a thoughtful way to bring back to life disused urban spaces, and could contribute to addressing the housing crisis and improving local communities.
“Over Beard’s 135-year history, we have been involved in many residential projects, but none quite like this,” he said.
“Working with factory-made panels and within the limits of a small site has presented challenges that the team has embraced.
“It has been exciting to apply the innovative new methods to create sustainable, contemporary and affordable homes in the city.”
