South Bristol is set for an economic and jobs boost following the official opening this week of the £12m Filwood Green Business Park.
The city council claims hundreds of jobs could be created on the business park – a flagship project of Bristol’s year as European Green Capital which will offer sustainable workspace for small and medium-sized businesses. 
The 40,000 sq ft of workshop and office space, designed by Bristol architects Stride Treglown, is the first of its type in the South West and has been built to the industry leading ‘BREEAM Outstanding’ environmental and sustainability standards.
It has already been shortlisted for the prestigious 2degrees Champions award which recognise new sustainable building.
Its construction involved more than 500 people working onsite, creating training opportunities for apprentices and jobs for more than 300 local sub-contractors.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “Filwood Green Business Park is a great vote of confidence in the future of South Bristol. It gives me huge pleasure to be able to open it during our year as European Green Capital and to invite families and members of the local community to come and see this important new development on their doorstep.
“This project is a vital component of our year as Green Capital and provides a lasting legacy for the city, creating jobs by providing environmentally conscious businesses with workshop and office space to boost economic prosperity.”
Assistant Mayor for Place Cllr Mark Bradshaw said the business park would become South Bristol’s Engine Shed, in reference to the highly-successful innovation hub at Temple Meads.
“I toured the building during construction last year and returning I see a connected, sustainable hub which is future-proofed and offers great flexibility, he said. “This building sends a clear signal that South Bristol is thinking ahead to close the gaps in skills and infrastructure.”
Homes and Communities Agency area manager Adam Frontczak said the business park would bring huge benefits to the city, providing jobs and substantial economic value to help drive the regeneration of Knowle West.
It would also inspire the next phase of work: 150 new and affordable homes, alongside a public park, which would benefit the people of Knowle West for generations to come.
Gary Milliner, of Stride Treglown, added: “As the designers of Filwood Green Business Park we are excited to see the completed building welcomed by the local community at today’s grand opening.
“We hope to see the building’s green credentials attract like-minded businesses and local independent workers to these new high-quality interactive work spaces.”
Derek Quinn, executive director at Midas Construction, said: “As a Bristol-based company we are very proud to have created Filwood Green Business Park.
“This is the first commercial building in the South West ever to earn a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, and one of the highest-scoring environmentally-friendly buildings in the whole of Europe.”
The opening ceremony featured a theatrical performance by Cirque Bijou accompanied by drummers, stilt walkers and a BMX stunt rider, followed by a performance by Bristol 2015 European Green Capital poet Martin Kiszko.
A family fun day was held after the official opening with stands from local businesses and organisations, a circus skills workshop, bubble fun workshop, face painting and food from local sausage maker Sausagenius and Pizza Monkey.
Knowle West Media Centre hosted a laser drop-in workshop, allowing people to personalise special Filwood logo key-rings.
