At the full council meeting on 12 March 2024, TRESA submitted a question to the outgoing mayor, Marvin Rees, about the unfinished towerblock development at Totterdown Bridge. The question and written response are set out in full below
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Subject: Totterdown Bridge
The towerblock development at Totterdown Bridge is currently unfinished, there is no sign of work
progressing, and the 17-storey tower has only one escape route which does not comply with fire
safety regulations for buildings over 18 metres. Residents of Totterdown regularly ask about progress.
We are aware that Sir Keir Starmer was taken to the development site in 2021 as part of your mayoral
re-election campaign, and so we hope you have maintained interest in the development.
Please can you provide an update on what is happening to the towerblock development at
Totterdown Bridge?
Reply:
This is a private development being carried out by Clarion, a Registered Provider who acquired the
site after planning was secured in 2019. They are delivering the site for a mix of social rent and
shared ownership homes.
Clarion have confirmed:
· Progress on works halted while Clarion re-engaged with the design team to engage a new
contractor. This is not easy in the current market (inflation, Brexit, labour supply etc.), and finding
local contractors with suitable experience has been a challenge.
· They are talking to a company and hope to enter into agreement to take the building to
completion.
· The current timeframe is[sic] for completion is 2025.
· A phased occupation is not possible because of the building’s layout.