Major refurbishment and expansion works at Filwood Community Centre are expected to begin later this month.
Following a six-month tender process, Bristol City Council has appointed local company Bray and Slaughter as the main contractor to undertake the works. The project is part of the wider £30 million Transforming Filwood Broadway regeneration project, which will also see more public space, new shops, and new affordable housing for the area.
Cllr Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee said: "The transformed Filwood Community Centre will be the beating heart of Knowle West. It's such an exciting project, and I'm really pleased that the work will be done by a local firm with a storied history and deep roots in South Bristol. It shows the council and local people working together to support the community and get things done."
Bray and Slaughter was established in 1900 and is based on Parson Street near Novers Hill. The firm has extensive experience of delivering construction projects across the city, such as the Wills Memorial Library for the University of Bristol, the refurbishment of the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and the upgrade and repurposing of Bridewell Magistrates Court.
Bray and Slaughter showed the highest quality and demonstrated a significant commitment to investing in the local community through mentoring and working with local Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises and working with a predominantly local supply chain. They are also expecting to hire a new apprentice to work on the project, will train new staff at South Bristol Skills Academy, provide work for long-term unemployed and re-habilitating ex-offenders, work experience for local people, local school/college visits, and other initiatives promoting skills and employment.
Grant Jefferies, MD of Bray and Slaughter said: “We are delighted to have been entrusted with the delivery of this high-quality scheme. Bray and Slaughter is firmly rooted in South Bristol and we are excited to collaborate with stakeholders and the best local specialist trades to ensure the impact of this capital investment touches as many members of the area as possible.”
Makala Cheung, Director of Filwood Community Centre said: “It’s fantastic that the work on the Community Centre will be managed by a firm based just down the road from us! The Centre means such a lot to the local community, our tenants, and everyone who works here, so it’s reassuring to know it’s in the hands of a company who really understands the value of what we do.
“It’s been a lot of work to get to this point but we’re all so excited to see the construction start on our beautiful new-look Community Centre. We’ll have much more space and better facilities, making us a destination for culture and wellbeing in south Bristol. Along with the wider development on Filwood Broadway, we’ll really be putting Knowle West on the map.”
Find out more about the Transforming Filwood Broadway regeneration project at the online engagement hub: http://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/hub-page/transforming-filwood-broadway/