Supplying space for free in exchange for city regeneration..

With the cuts and £90m of savings see's buildings close, opportunities go in to hibernation, local communities struggle and reality block optimism.  

It doesn't have to be like this though.  BCC are sitting on cleared garage sites, other brown field sites and buildings which can be used for regeneration.  

Without the £90m of savings toilet blocks will stay open and new swimming pools could be built.  There are alternatives though to BCC ownership.
Talk to BCC and there's always a monerory value on assets which are sat doing nothing and at the same time there are development partners who are out there and ready to invest in exchange for 100 year leases on brown field sites at no cost to make it worth their investment. 

For example take a large garage site.  Go to a social housing land lord with the idea to develop this and the housing provider will need an incentive.  BCC will meet this incentive by giving them the land for free for 100 years and the first floor of the new complex will offer new community rooms for use as a community centre as part of the deal.  The social housing land lord will have the £400k site and be able to start building new one and two bedroom homes for the city.  This scheme kills several birds with one stone and helps to renderate neighbourhoods.

New community venues where they need to be and an exciting building homes project for the city.  

It doesn't end with community centres on brown field sites though.  Take car parks owned by the Council in the city centre and look at what can be done to develop top floors in to exciting venues i.e. a new Ice Rink on Trenchard Street car park with views across the city.  A new swimming pool in the Speedwell area in exchange for a large brown field site to justify a social landlord to invest and make it worth while.  

New youth centres at the base of social housing complexes and new libraries.

Advertise for development partners on the BCC website homepage and share the ideas for each venue and project which the city would like to see develop.  Meeting the development partner with an olive branch i.e. 50 - 100 years free used of the land or the site will show them where a venture is worth investment.  

But if BCC choose to ask for a monetory value on baron sites, closed centres and use of roof tops then we will be far less ahead of where we should be by 2020.  

Car parks at ground level in local communities have the potential to become commercial hubs.  Build fives levels on them and in exchange for the deal, the first two levels are car parking spaces.

A new development partner hub will get Bristol building and see opportunities through the fof that's been created in recent years.

 

Why the contribution is important

It get's Bristol building, it will create 1000's of jobs, it will encourage development partners to work with BCC, it will create 1000's of homes, it will see leisure opportunities return to the city with private investment and every neighbourhood will be a potentially excity place to invest.  

by user946047 on November 27, 2013 at 01:46PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 6 votes

Comments

  • Posted by user946047 November 28, 2013 at 11:42

    Sorry about the spelling mistakes, I had to rush out and wanted to get this idea submitted first. Hope it get's posted to the public.
  • Posted by user734334 November 28, 2013 at 16:23

    Totally agree!
  • Posted by user690930 December 14, 2013 at 16:48

    Brilliant Big Thinking Idea
    Can also be used to free up Green Fields that can be leased to Sports Clubs for say a period of 10 years
    Supermarkets could donate a potacabin and have their name added such as Redland T**co Rugby Club
    Also for extra allotments
  • Posted by user412750 December 19, 2013 at 22:59

    Good idea, with one proviso.

    Brownfield land has often become valuable habitat for wildlife. I think it is important that we do not, in making provision for ourselves, squeeze out everything else. I would therefore want to see provisions built in to such deals that protect the wildlife that is there & also aim to enhance it.

    It doesn’t even require extra expense or effort to do so. When sites are developed, some sort of landscaping has to be done. If native, nectar rich trees & shrubs are planted, for example, they provide infrastructure & food for insects & birds. If ponds are put in, amphibians, birds & insects are provided for. Ponds can be made child-friendly by being fenced properly.

    So it’s not about spending extra money on wildlife – it is just about doing things a bit differently.

    So, thumbs up for this idea, as long as wildlife is protected.
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