RCKa has won an invited competition for a residential-led mixed-use project in Filwood, South Bristol. RCKa is supported by a locally-based sub-consultant team including SEED landscape design, Momentum, E3 Consulting Engineers, Sustainable Construction Services, The Planning Lab, and TTP Consulting. RCKa’s appointment follows their recent competition win on the Levelling Up Funded Tropicana in Weston-Super-Mare.
The site, a deteriorated parade of shops and housing on Filwood Broadway, was first identified in the Knowle West Regeneration Framework in 2009 and is set out for council-led development in the council’s HRA business plan. The level of demolition and redevelopment will be determined through detailed analysis considering embodied and operational carbon, quality, deliverability and cost implications of different development options.
The site is adjacent to another mixed-use development on the Former Filwood Cinema site, designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. The adjacent site was granted planning permission in January 2023, and is due to start on site this month.
The project is part of the Levelling Up Funded (LUF) ‘Transforming Filwood Broadway’ regeneration project. RCKa’s appointment follows the appointments of an Architecture 00 and George Lovesmith-led team on a High Street Delivery Plan and a Hayhurst and Co.-led team on Filwood Community Centre.
Matt Brown from Bristol City Council’s Housing Delivery Team said:
“We’re pleased to be working with RCKa and their wider team on such an important site on Filwood Broadway. They bring relevant skills balancing different uses on complex sites. The existing building is a key focal point on the high street and high quality commercial and residential space is much needed to achieve the wider aims of community-led regeneration plans that began over a decade ago. We’ll be working with our local stakeholder network to ensure that proposals meet these aspirations.”
Dieter Kleiner, from RCKa, said:
“RCKa is thrilled to be working with Bristol City Council and local stakeholders on this trail-blazing regeneration project that will maximise the social impact of council assets for people in Filwood. Our ambition is to deliver 100% affordable housing that enhances both the physical and social fabric of the place, with shared gardens and a revitalised public realm and shopping parade that encourages social cohesion and respects the existing townscape.”
