The people behind a project that hopes to bring an eco-community to an area near the M32 in Bristol have put 'one of the oldest farm buildings in the city' up for sale. Bridge Farm, located on the edge of Stapleton, is a project to "repair and reuse the listed buildings and create an affordable, sustainable, community-led housing scheme on the surrounding land".
Housing plans were submitted in March 2023, which proposed 12 new-build dwellings comprising of 11 three-bed houses and one one-bedroom house, led by Bridge Farm owners Ashley Vale Action Group (AVAG), a group of residents. At the time the main farmhouse, which dates back to the early 18th Century, required work to fix a leaking roof and 'uninhabitable' top floor.
This week, more than a year after plans were submitted, the group behind Bridge Farm shared a message on Facebook announcing that the farmhouse will be put up for sale via auction next month. The message invited the new owners to become part of the Bridge Farm project, and potential investors in the scheme.
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The Facebook post said: "Dear Bristol community, our wonderful farmhouse, one of Bristol's oldest standing farm buildings, is up for sale, offering individuals, organisations or charity groups a wonderful opportunity to join this important project. As much as we would have loved to have kept this wonderful building in community ownership, the costs of refurbishment, and those incurred across a lengthy planning process, means we are keen to welcome in others to the project.
"And in order to let interested parties have a chance to engage with the project, we have decided to revise the auction date to April 25, giving us time to hold an open day, this Sunday, March 24 - 11am-4pm. The six-bedroom property, with a selection of outhouses and beautiful walled garden, sits on a wider 4.34 acre site homing a number of community growing, agriculture and education groups.
"Our dream is for the site to be a haven on the edge of the city, helping the Bristol community grow and connect together, learning how to live a more sustainable life together. Imagine a cobbled street with original stone barns on either side, containing a café and restaurant, selling local produce and offering events and a place to connect."
The group said Bridge Farm is about being a link "between city life and the country". The property listing from Maggs and Allen describes the sale as a "unique opportunity" to buy the six-bedroom farmhouse, which agents say is in need of "complete renovation". It has a guide price of £250,000.
They add: "Bridge Farm is an emerging project which is embracing a different approach to living and working, with a focus on sustainable living, sustainable transport, local food production, local renewable energy production, energy efficiency, connecting with nature, and having a lighter footprint on the planet.
"The farmhouse is to be sold on a new 999 year lease with the freehold being retained by the community organisation, with the objective that it transfers to a community land trust in due course, which the successful purchaser can be part of."
The plan for Bridge Farm
The plans for the community-led housing scheme submitted in June 2023 still appear to be 'pending', according to the planning portal on the Bristol City Council website. National Highways recommended that planning permission should not be granted, with reference to the plans 'in the vicinity of the M32 Junction 2 that forms part of the Strategic Road Network'.
The Environment Agency objected to the application as it said "the submitted Flood Risk Assessment is not compliant with national planning policy". Historic England noted that the application site is on the southern edge of the Stapleton and Frome Valley Conservation Area, to the immediate west of the M32 motorway which cuts through the Conservation Area, to the north of the site is the Grade II Registered park and garden of Stoke Park, and on the south west corner of the site is the Grade II Bridge Farmhouse and associated outbuildings - "heritage assets of national significance".
It added that "the form, location and design of the revised layout is overly urban for its context within the Conservation Area". However there are many public comments in support of the plans.
In September 2023, plans initially submitted in 2020 - for the restoration of the Grade II-listed farmhouse and change of use to a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation - were given planning permission (subject to conditions). This came alongside permission to convert and change the use of outbuildings in order to create three dwellings, craft studio workshops, a retail unit, cafe and community events space.
Currently on site, there is the possibility to hold meetings, workshops, meditations, yoga classes, meals, dances, and other events in the 'Top Barn'. The 'Long Barn' has "recently had lots of work" to fix its roof and "will soon enable bigger events and movements to happen at the farm, such as a cafe, bakery, wood workshop, village hall, or exhibition space, according to the Bridge Farm website.
