Our Projects

Fishponds Road

Built on the site of a former chapel-turned-school, 325 Fishponds Road demonstrates what can be done when you put residents at the heart of the design & delivery process.


Bristol CLT’s first community-led development of 12 homes on Fishponds Road, completed in 2016, is now fully occupied and has been a resounding success, demonstrating what can be achieved. Built on land acquired from Bristol City Council, homes are a mix of shared ownership and affordable rent. The emphasis was on creating an affordable and highly community-focused development, and each resident had to be a member of the CLT, becoming invested in the scheme and the CLT’s ethos. 


Residents played an active role in the design phase and were also able to self-finish their homes, sharing the work to complete kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and more.


As a result, residents were able to earn 'sweat equity' in return for the time & effort they put into the project. This either increases the share of the property they own, or reduces the rent they pay. Plus it is a really great way for the new community to get to know each other - building their community, one brick at a time. 


"I'm so lucky. I've never felt more at home"


Merry Hill

Formerly an over-grown area of old allotments, this 1.4  hectare site has been transferred from the Council to BCLT in order to build an exemplar development of highly energy efficient, 100% affordable homes.


  • 100% 'affordable' mixed tenure of shared ownership and affordable rent
  • Built to 'Passivhaus' principles
  • Ground source heat pumps
  • Roof-top solar PVs
  • 'Self-finish' enabling residents to tailor their kitchens, bathrooms and outside space
  • Priority given to local residents who are in housing need
  • Improved pedestrian & cycle access


Daniel Merry was a BCLT member who was actively involved in the project, then known as 'Shaldon Road', from 2015. He worked alongside other members through the consultation and design process, and in 2017, he was matched with a home at the scheme.

However, in June 2021, Daniel tragically passed away. In honour of his commitment to the project, and the long-desired community aim to find a more suitable name for the scheme, the community of matched residents came together to suggest re-naming the site as Merry Hill. 

Daniel's widow, Cat, consulted with his parents and wider family and they were all unanimously delighted with the suggestion, and thought that he would have been too.



BCLT is hugely supportive of this change, in honour of Daniel's commitment to the project. We also feel that it will be a fitting name for what we hope will be a community of happiness and merriment to those who live there, and for the wider community of Lockleaze.