Work has started on a new £100m, 160,000 sq ft corporate office development on Hunts Ground Road, opposite the park and ride site at the rear of Parkway Station.
Developer Ashfield Land was granted planning permission for the scheme (now being marketed as ‘The Approach‘) by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) in June last year.
Contractor ISG is carrying out the site clearance and demolition on behalf of Ashfield Land. As well as being the demolition contractor, ISG previously occupied the former office buildings on the site for more than 40 years (having originally moved there in 1974).
Amanda Deeks, chief executive of the council, joined Ashfield Land director James Digby to mark the formal start of site clearance and demolition.
James Digby said:
“Today is about bringing The Approach another step closer and readying the site for redevelopment. It’s a major milestone and means we have real momentum as we look to move forward into construction and, ultimately, providing a top quality occupier with a new home here in Bristol.”
Cllr Colin Hunt, lead member for planning at SGC, added:
“We’re delighted to see this key development site coming forward. Situated next to Parkway Station, The Approach will be an ideal location for bringing new business to South Gloucestershire and creating hundreds of new jobs.”
JLL, which is marketing the building, anticipates The Approach will appeal to a number of national and international businesses, not least because it offers such attractive connectivity and quality while having lower occupational costs than comparable office space in London, the South East and even Bristol City Centre.
The new development will benefit from its proximity to the new Stoke Gifford By-Pass when this opens in September, allowing fast access to the M32. It also lies on the route of the planned Emersons Green to Bristol Parkway MetroBus service.
Photos: 1 Amanda Deeks (chief executive of South Gloucestershire Council) and James Digby (director of Ashfield Land). 2 Artist’s impression of The Approach.
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 11). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
