Planning permission has been granted by Bristol City Council to retrofit and expand Filwood Community Centre.
The proposals are a sympathetic retrofit and expansion of the existing building, providing 75 per cent more floor space to the Community Centre, including a new space for Filwood Library and a public living room.
Enhanced facilities include a range of community spaces that are flexible, adaptable, and accessible for all. Alongside the new spaces, the existing areas will also undergo significant building fabric improvements to improve the building’s energy efficiency.
Makala Cheung, Director at Filwood Community Centre:
“After so many years of working with local residents on a revamped bigger and better centre, it's amazing to see it coming into reality. I loved our community's vision for a destination for Knowle West, a place to be proud of and a space for local people to take part in and create culturally relevant activities that also help with creativity, well-being, and learning.
“Now, with more and different types of spaces, we hope this will mean more great stuff for people this side of the city to enjoy, more local jobs for local people, and more income to keep the centre and charitable projects sustainable in the longer term.”
The £10m project is part of a wider community-led regeneration project initiated by the Knowle West Regeneration Framework in 2012, which includes new housing and commercial spaces, public realm works, and a high street improvement project.
Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee at Bristol City Council said:
“Filwood Community Centre’s expansion and refurbishment is a centrepiece of the wider regeneration of Filwood Broadway. This is an important part of delivering the community-led masterplan initiated by Knowle West residents with the Knowle West Regeneration Framework from 2012. I’m delighted that we’re able to fulfil the vision that local people have developed for the neighbourhood. The expanded and reimagined community centre will be Knowle West’s front room, a vibrant hub that will support the wellbeing of people across South Bristol.”
Works are funded as part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Transforming Filwood regeneration project, awarded to Bristol City Council (BCC) via the former Levelling Up Fund. More information on the Transforming Filwood Regeneration project can be found here: https://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/hub-page/transforming-filwood-broadway
The project is a partnership with BCC and Community In Partnership Knowle West (CIPKW), the organisation who run Filwood Community Centre. Proposals have been led by architects Hayhurst and Co., supported by YOU&ME, Integral Engineering, Greengauge Building Energy Consultants, G&T, Black Box Planning, BD Landscape, Goddard Consulting, and Part B Fire Consultants.
Following a competitive tender process, construction work is expected to start in January 2025, to enable the building to re-open to the public in early 2026. The existing library will maintain its current location on the Broadway until the completion of work.
Jonathan Nicholls, Director at Hayhurst and Co.:
“The development of Filwood Community Centre will provide outstanding social and cultural facilities for Knowle West and the wider south Bristol community. We have developed the designs for the building closely with existing building users, local groups and the community to ensure they build on the strength of the Centre’s history so the expanded building continues to deliver positive change for the local area.
“The design respectfully adds a range of new and expanded spaces, it uses sustainable forms of construction, and it minimises demolition and celebrates re-use. The new spaces are designed to be inviting, to welcome people in and to encourage more people to benefit from Filwood Community Centre long into the future.”