Work on one of the remaining undeveloped parts of Bristol’s Harbourside has reached a milestone with a topping out ceremony.
The Bristol office of national property group Acorn and building contractor Speller Metcalfe are redeveloping the city’s former Canon’s Marsh gasworks, now called Brandon Yard, with a 58-home scheme. The new homes will be set across three separate buildings and are a mixture of both new-build and restoration of existing buildings. 
Guests celebrated the final stages of the roof installation of Oculus House with a traditional topping out ceremony and tour of the site for guests, including the Lord Mayor of Bristol Cllr Cleo Lake, pictured, and her consort Bianca Denecia Caroline Durrant.
Cllr Lake said: “It is good to see the area being regenerated and it is great to get to know the developers and construction teams and how they work in Bristol.
“Construction works such as these can bring a real economic benefit to the city as well as helping new people and young people find jobs in the construction industry.”
Robin Squire, regional managing director of Acorn’s Bristol region added: “Works on site are progressing well and we’re delighted to have been able to celebrate ‘topping out’ at Oculus House with Bristol’s Lord Mayor and those that have helped make this site a success.
“Speller Metcalfe have been invaluable on Brandon Yard and really understand our requirements and ambitions for the development, so we all look forward to seeing the site continue to progress”
Speller Metcalfe regional director Martyn Osborne said: “Brandon Yard has provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase both our new build and listed building expertise, right in the heart of the City of Bristol.
“Working closely with Acorn we have developed an outstanding and iconic scheme in a truly amazing location. This really is the last piece of the harbourside jigsaw which we are very proud to be involved with.”
Other guests included Phil Bevan, Grég Capron and Robert Griffiths from AWW Architects, Speller Metcalfe chairman Andy Metcalfe and purchasers of one of the Brandon Yard properties.
The Brandon Yard development, situated alongside Bristol’s historic Floating Harbour and opposite the SS Great Britain, is one of the last remaining areas of the city’s harbourside to be developed, having sat derelict for the past 40 years.
The new five-storey apartment block has been designed in a style in keeping with the area’s historic surroundings and will feature a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments plus an undercroft car park. The original historic façade of the Grade II listed Purifier House is being retained and the stone shell renovated into a further three-storey apartment block. The existing grade II listed Engine House is also being converted into two houses.
Brandon Yard is being built by Speller Metcalfe’s South West office and is expected to complete next spring.
