Bristol council ‘on track’ to build 2000 homes a year

In his final address before the mayoral elections, Marvin Rees outlined his achievements of his first term in office.“Evidence of the change we are bringing is that my cabinet and I have actually delivered the commitments we made to you”, said Bristol city’s Mayor, Marvin Rees in his State of the City address last night (16th October).It was his final address before the mayoral elections in May next year and as a result his speech focused on the achievements of his first term in office.Key points include Rees’ assertion the council is on track to build an average of 2,000 homes a year by 2020 including 800 affordable, as well as the delivery of his six other manifesto pledges from 2016.Developments currently underway across the city include the Ambulance Station, the Launchpad housing scheme and the Zedpods housing scheme above St George car park.Rees also outlined housing developments being built in some of the city’s “most deprived areas”, including Hengrove, Lockleaze and Southmead.He continued to say that the council have committed 82% of their five-year capital programme – including £85m to accelerate home building, and £61m for Goram Homes, the councils new housing company.This also includes £857m to infrastructure investment, including new homes and redevelopment schemes such as Temple Quarter and Temple Meads Station.This was down to the “city leadership”, she said.He also looked forward to his next four years in office should he be re-elected in May and laid out his ambitions in four main areas, homes, jobs, environment and transport.