We have been working with Bristol Community Land Trust and United Communities Housing on a proposal for this central Bristol site. In 2013, Bristol Community Land Trust were approached by Jamie Sanigar, owner of Bristol Boxing Club to discuss the former St Agnes School in St Pauls. The site, owned by Empire Weightlifting was to be put up for sale with the weightlifting club closing down after over 50 years.

The is was to try and find a mixed community and affordable housing solution, as well as ensuring a sustainable ongoing use for the Grade II listed former St Agnes School.

We have worked up an initial feasibility and master-plan study for the site, utilising both the existing buildings and the car park site. The are many challenges, including a building that has suffered lack of repair over the years and location in the flood plain. However the location is good, close to a local park and with easy access, and overall the scheme stacks up well for an affordable housing provider.

Our proposal is for a mixed use scheme -accommodation is to include a dozen interesting refurbished apartments in the school halls, new build residential with four houses and ten flats on the car park, along with a cluster of affordable workspaces and a space for community use. A pre application consultation with the City Planners met with a favourable response

The need to build the new residential accommodation at first floor level because of flood issues, and easy access from the nearby M32 will make the proposal ideally suited for modular volumetric construction using prefabricated elements.