National Lottery Community funding to help put Bedminster buildings into long-term local ownership

East Street and the surrounding neighbourhoods have been selected as one of five places in England to join a new £2.5 million National Lottery funded pilot. The funded pilot will secure and revive buildings for long-term local benefit to encourage more money to stay local and help build the local economy through the recently established Bedminster Property Partnership.

Since early 2023, Bristol City Council, Windmill Hill City Farm and Platform Places have been working together with local organisations and local residents to map property in the area, explore the potential for more community ownership and build the Bedminster Property Partnership. The aim is to enable communities to come together and secure long-term spaces for the activities and services that they need the most.

From October 2024, Bedminster Property Partnership will work towards bringing a range of buildings into long-term local ownership, using the Local Property Partnership approach, a tried-and-tested process where community leaders and local businesses work together with councils, funders and private assets owners to unlock town centre buildings for local needs. Local organisations involved include Action Greater Bedminster, Ocean Estate Agents, Share Bristol and Bedminster Town Team, who ran the former Bedminster Business Improvement District project.

Bedminster will receive £360,000 of funding from the National Lottery over three years which will help the Bedminster Property Partnership grow from an idea to a reality and enable the partnership to purchase (or long-lease) property to get empty buildings thriving again.

Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council and Ward Member for Southville said: “It’s fantastic to see East Street and the surrounding areas receive this support from National Lottery Communities Fund and Platform Places. The Bedminster Property Partnership is an exciting opportunity to encourage more money to stay local and to help build a thriving local economy that works for the diverse communities of South Bristol. Our communities need long-term, secure and affordable spaces and this pilot is an opportunity to explore how we can do that.”

Rebecca Trevalyan, co-founder and co-director at Platform Places, said: “One in seven high-street shops are empty. Many more are underused or at risk of becoming so.

“At the same time, it’s often expensive and precarious for local businesses and community organisations to access secure, affordable workspace. Now more than ever, we need services in our town centres that help address the cost-of-living, social isolation and climate crises – whether arts and music venues, reuse and repair hubs, urban farms, community kitchens, youth and sports clubs, local markets, co-working spaces, or genuinely affordable housing.”

Steve Sayers, Windmill Hill City Farm CEO, who has been working to develop the project since 2023, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Bedminster is part of this national programme. Over the next three years we’ll be building a strong and diverse partnership with other local organisations that can put community into the heart of our high street, deliver engaging places for local people and help to regenerate the neighbourhood around East Street.”

The four other projects joining the pilot are in Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool City Region, and Wandsworth. Collectively, the pilot scheme has received £2.5 million thanks to National Lottery players.

More information can be found on www.platformplaces.com/bedminster-bristol or email bedminster@platformplaces.com.