Plans to redevelop a deteriorated stretch of shops and housing at 4–16 Filwood Broadway have been granted permission, marking a major milestone in the wider ‘Transforming Filwood Broadway’ regeneration project.

The approved scheme will see the demolition and rebuild of the site to deliver 18 new council homes, modern commercial units, community space, and a communal garden for residents. The development is designed by architects RCKa, drawing inspiration from the architectural character and heritage of Filwood Broadway.

All homes will be built to national space standards, ensuring good-sized, high-quality accommodation. The site falls within the area covered by the Knowle West Local Lettings Policy, meaning that 50% of the new affordable homes will be prioritised for people with a local connection.

The decision to rebuild rather than retrofit follows a thorough sustainability review, which concluded that new construction would provide better long-term energy efficiency and lower running costs for residents while balancing overall carbon impact.

As part of the project’s community-led approach, the design of the retail units incorporated ideas developed with students from E-ACT Merchants’ Academy and Bedminster Down School. A new commercial lettings process is also being shaped with input from the Filwood Broadway High Street Working Group.

Enabling works at 4–16 Filwood Broadway are scheduled to begin in late August 2025, with construction expected to start in spring 2026.

This scheme is one element of the broader Transforming Filwood Broadway initiative, which includes:

• 48 new affordable homes on the neighbouring former cinema and petrol station site, including 42 social rented homes and 6 shared ownership properties
• A refurbishment and extension of Filwood Community Centre, now underway
• Shopfront improvements and a long-term high street strategy
• A new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Filwood playing fields, delivered in partnership with the Bristol Robins Foundation
• Public realm enhancements along the Broadway, including wider pavements, new seating, planters, and tree planting

The regeneration programme aims to revitalise Filwood Broadway into a vibrant hub for housing, retail, and community life, while delivering affordable homes for South Bristol.

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