Council buys derelict pub in order to knock it down

Bristol City Council is now the owner of a derelict pub, which will soon be knocked down so dozens of new council houses can be built.

The council has used a compulsory purchase order to acquire the former Gainsborough pub in Lockleaze, whose owner Mushtaq Ahmed was unwilling to sell and was fined more than £10,000 in March for ignoring warnings and failing to carry out maintenance work on three properties in the city.

Forty-seven homes are due to be built as part of a development on Branwhite Close behind the pub, with a cafe or community space two possibilities for a unit replacing the pub which would front onto Gainsborough Square.

A private home on Branwhite Close which had also been causing delays to the new development has also been bought by the council, with its owner now relocated and receiving compensation.

Bristol cabinet member for housing, Tom Renhard, said that “Lockleaze is going through a big transformation at the moment, and we are working hard to make sure all the developments complement each other, as well as developing community spaces and facilities for local residents to use”.

The former Gainsborough will soon be knocked down – photo: Martin Booth

The Gainsborough, whose roof is missing following a fire in 2019, was once a lively pub with a skittle alley and regular entertainment.

It closed in 2011 having also been known as the Blue Boy; leaving Lockleaze as one of several neighbourhoods in Bristol without a single pub.

Lockleaze councillor Heather Mack said that she and her fellow Green Party councillor David Wilcox “have been pushing to get the eyesore Gainsborough pub developed for years”.

She told Bristol24/7: “Having a place to eat, drink and socialise on the square is a top priority for local residents, so we welcome this news. We’re working with developers to ensure there are many new venues on the square.”

The Branwhite development hopes to “breath new life” into Gainsborough Square – image: Bristol City Council

Renhard said: “Our housing teams have worked really hard to get this site ready for development, as we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle the housing shortage in the city.

“The 47 homes that will be built on this site are part of the council’s New Build Housing Programme, regenerating brownfield sites to provide new high-quality homes across the city. To date 260 new homes have been completed.

“The new build programme aims to deliver more than 1,750 new homes for the city over the next five years as part of a planned investment of over £1.8 billion in building new council homes.

“We are currently on site at six locations building 195 new homes, and we are also acquiring 300 new homes from developers including Goram Homes. We have a further 280 council homes on various developments due to start on site in the next 12 months.

“But it is not just about the number of new homes we build; we are committed to developing mixed and balanced communities, working hard to make sure any new homes are suitable for the surrounding local area.”

47 new homes will be built as part of the Branwhite Close development, which banks up from Bonnington Walk – image: Bristol City Council

Renhard added: “Lockleaze is going through a big transformation at the moment, and we are working hard to make sure all the developments complement each other, as well as developing community spaces and facilities for local residents to use.

“The development will have a non-residential unit built facing onto Gainsborough Square. The exact use has not yet been decided, and we will be engaging with local community organisations and residents on potential options.

“We know that local people are keen to see the space used to benefit the community, which could include cafe or community space.

“As well as enabling the housing development, the demolition of the pub will come as a relief to local people, as it has become an eye sore, and a target for fly tipping and graffiti in recent years.

“Demolition is due to start on Branwhite Close later this year, and I look forward to finally being able to break ground on this site next spring.”

The Gainsborough in 2008; the pub was also previously known as the Blue Boy – photo: Google

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Owner says community ‘will never get pub back’
• Lockleaze residents demand ‘more than just houses’ in area earmarked for over 1000 new homes
• Derelict pub remains eyesore two and a half years after council agreed to buy it

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