Work gets underway in Bristol this week on the first phase of one of the most important regeneration schemes in South West England.

The multi-million pound development at Hengrove Park will deliver a massive boost to the people of South Bristol.

The first phase of the project will see the delivery of significant new community facilities including a Community Hospital being developed for Bristol Primary Care Trust; a Skills Academy to be run by City of Bristol College and a new 'Healthplex' leisure centre for Bristol City Council, to be built and operated by Bristol Active Ltd.

In addition, the scheme will deliver a new national headquarters building for the global share registry Computershare and new offices for the international drinks brands company Constellation Europe and leading drinks supplier Matthew Clark, all existing major local employers.

Bristol City Council has now awarded a contract to Tarmac to construct some of the essential infrastructure needed to enable the scheme to progress. This will include a new temporary junction on Whitchurch Lane, a new temporary construction access road and work to provide permanent gas, electricity and other services to the new facilities.

-- Advertisement --

Once completed, phase one will secure more than £100 million of investment in new public facilities for South Bristol, while retaining around 2,000 jobs in the area.

Earlier this year, the South West RDA announced a multi-million pound investment into Hengrove Park that will be used for additional infrastructure works that are due to begin in 2009. This will include improvements to the roads surrounding Hengrove Park and the construction of permanent roads and landscaping on-site.

It is expected that construction work on the Skills Academy and Constellation buildings could start as soon as autumn 2008 with work on the hospital getting underway early in 2009 and, subject to planning permission, development of the Healthplex to follow in spring 2009. Computershare anticipate making a planning application in autumn 2008 and hope to begin construction during 2009.

The principle external funders of the public sector projects are The Learning and Skills Council, the Departments of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport with investment into further phases of infrastructure work from the South West of England RDA.

All contractors working on the project will be required to join the Considerate Constructors' Scheme. This commits the contractors to doing everything possible to limit any negative impact on the environment, the local area or residents during the work.

(CD)