Tenants’ Hall Development
Background
The former Tenants’ Hall building was surveyed in 2021. The survey found that several major parts of the building were no longer serviceable, including the main hall floor, the roof and the external masonry walls. Given the likely cost and risk of refurbishing the existing building, it was agreed that the building should be demolished and the site brought forward for new development.
Bristol City Council secured funding from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund to clear the site, remove asbestos and prepare the land for a new community-led development. The aim remains to create a new building with affordable housing above and community space at ground-floor level.
The Tenants’ Hall site was offered through Bristol City Council’s Community Led Housing Land Disposal Policy. BSRC, working with local residents, community organisations, architects and the Tenants’ Hall steering group, has developed proposals for the future use of the land. The project is expected to include a number of affordable flats, subject to planning and viability, alongside community facilities designed to serve local residents.
Demolition Update
Demolition of the former Tenants’ Hall building has now been completed and the site has been cleared and secured. This was an important stage in bringing the land back into active community use.
The demolition process had to be carried out carefully because of the condition of the building, the presence of asbestos and other safety issues, and the need to protect wildlife. An ecologist was involved during the early demolition works, and bat boxes were provided on the rear boundary wall.
BSRC and the project team also worked with the Barton Hill History Group, who were able to identify and remove items of local historical interest before demolition was completed. We are grateful to local residents, the History Group and all those who helped ensure that the history of the site was respected during this process.
Project Update (as of October 2026)
BSRC and the project team have continued working with architects, Bristol City Council, the steering group and local partners to move the project forward. The proposals have been shaped by community consultation, including three consultation exercises held during 2022/23 with support from BSWN, and a public event at the Wellspring Centre where draft plans were shared with the community.
The vision for the site remains a mixed development that provides affordable homes and a practical, welcoming community space for Barton Hill. The community space is intended to support advice work, older people’s activities, children and young people’s activities, education classes, meetings, events and other forms of community support.
The next stage is to complete the remaining development work needed before the scheme can progress to delivery. This includes finalising the development partnership, design, planning, viability and long-term arrangements for the community space.
We know that many local people are eager to see visible progress. Community-led developments of this kind can take time, especially where housing, planning, funding, legal agreements and community ownership all have to be brought together. However, BSRC remains committed to ensuring that the Tenants’ Hall site becomes a long-term community asset.