Ecomotive

02/07/2023

Thanks Glastonbury 2023. It’s been emotional. 😄🥹🥳
Think this one has to goes down as a vintage year. Thanks to Sally and the whole of the Croissant Neuf field. Lots of conversations around the need for change, and how we can create better places to live. Dreams, ideas, seedlings of projects, people looking for land, people with skills, people with hope for a different way, people with frustrations of how hard the system is for them to have some say over their own future.
With a fragmented system, and a disempowered society, with more people pushed to the edge, it’s all about community baby!

Thanks to everyone that made our little build in this big festival possible, and to our friends and neighbours. Kellaway Building Supplies, Shepherds Ice Cream, The Hippy Chippy, The Bhangra Bus Cafe, FareShare South West, The Chapel of Unrest, Solarsense, SNUG Homes, Land Logic Timber
🙏🔥🙏🔥🙏🔥🙏🔥🙏🔥🙏🔥🙏
Sally Howell Danny Panther Eyes Cara Ann Naden, Ben Hoyles Anna Rose, Jackson Moulding, Michelle Asher, Sadie Coles, Tim Stainforth, Fredi Devas, Nick Carline, Balla Jaazz, Christopher Johnson, Jo Howell

21/06/2023

Wowzers, we’ve made it to the big time … we’re in the Glastonbury programme 🥳😂
If you are at Glasto, come and speak to us. Come talk housing, come talk community, come talk eco building, come talk SNUG Homes, or simply come and shelter from the sun. 🌞

27/03/2023

🌟🌟🌟 Hand over day - The last 9 homes 🌟🌟🌟
Wow..... This is a monumental day for the 50 home Bristol self-finish project.
39 homes completed and occupied / 2 homes with final touches prior to moving in soon.
That leaves 9 homes that have just completed the main self-finish phase, to be handed back to the contractors today (27th March 2023), for plumbing connections, mastic and flooring. It's incredible seeing the commitment of many of the group stepping up to ensure the homes are completed and handed over on time.
It's certainly not without its sweat and tears. It has been a tough and long ride, and quite a journey for many of the residents of the Merry Hill project. Though of course, it wouldn't be as rewarding if it was an easy ride.
The residents will get the homes back in three weeks, where there will be a few small self-finish items to complete. Then least 9 homes can be moved into.

The self-finish process is simply the prep to living on-site together. Where people across all 50 homes have helped each other out, and got to know each other.....importantly before moving in.

The magic is still to come, as the remaining people get to live on site, joining the others who's homes completed in earlier phases.

22/11/2022

The fantastic project that we have been supporting the self-finish programme has a one bed flat that has just come up. Whoever gets involved will need to participate in the self-finish over the next few months.

The Merry Hill (previously Shaldon Road) Self Finish Scheme is looking for a single person or couple to become part of this community-based, eco-friendly scheme. The property is due to be completed in April 2023 and is a ground floor one bed flat with own entrance and small garden. The rent is currently set at £135.17 per week but is subject to review in the Spring.

You will become part of a team of self-finishers who are tiling, decorating and kitchen fitting on their own and each other’s homes, and landscaping across the site. We are particularly looking for someone who would value the opportunity to get involved in the self-finish and to live in a community. Skills training and support is provided. A total commitment of 360 hours work to be carried out over the next 8 months. Hours worked will reduce the rent for a period of no more than 2 years. Priority will be given to those who have a strong Lockleaze connection and experience or interest in self-finish and community.

You must be ready immediately to start self-finish work.

For further information please contact Brighter Places Email: [email protected] . You will need to become a member of Bristol Community Land Trust and currently on Homechoice. Advance rent of at least 4 weeks due up front. Credit checks and references will be required.

To express your interest please email [email protected] with your HomeChoice reference and banding. Please describe why you are interested in the scheme, what skills you can bring and whether you have a Lockleaze local connection.

18/06/2022

We got to attend the , as the Merry Hill project was norminated as Social Housing project for the South West Award.

🌟🌟🌟🌟. And we Won. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

It has been a long slog, and the self-finishers have had a ride. Marrying up a big contractor who work to their own timeframe, and future residents who need to book time off work, or time out of looking after kids, to come and do their bit, had not been easy.
Brighter Places (the housing association) has worked hard to push the project forward.

19 homes have moved in.
13 homes are to move in imminently.
18 homes are due to start the self finish programme in July if works by the main contractor are completed.

It’s good recognition for a project that has tried to bring together so much. Land owned by Bristol CLT, all homes classed as affordable (25 affordable rent, 25 shared ownership), built to passivhaus so they will be lower carbon, homes managed and owned by Bright Places, and completed through self-finish which enables residents to feel ownership of the place, and to build community before they move in.

Creating homes in a different way!

Bristol Community Land Trust. Brighter Places Love Lockleaze Community Led Homes

08/02/2022

Excited to be running a community consultation session for the Turner Gardens Site, one of the council allocated sites for community led housing in Bristol. In partnership with The Hub Lockleaze and SNUG Homes . It's going to be online and in person, at the same time. So either come up to the Hub, on jump online on the 16th February at 7pm. Get in touch with [email protected] to know more.

**Help shape the future of housing in Lockleaze: Which values and design principles are most important to you?**

Principle 2: Pride of Place - How can the involvement of future residents in construction of new homes help create a sense of pride in place?

Have you ever built something yourself that you thought was impossible?
When have you experienced the feeling of contributing to a meal, a project, or a piece of artwork (or anything else!) which your family, friends or neighbours benefitted from?
Imagine contributing to the completion of your own home! How would this principle of pride of place impact the experience of end-users and the local community?

A ‘Self Finish’ approach to building homes - in which residents are trained and empowered to make finishing touches to their houses - can be a powerful way of achieving this.
We will be discussing the potential of Self-finish models, looking at other examples (including in Lockleaze) and at this project’s first public engagement event on 16th February 2022 at 7pm at The Hub on Gainsborough Square (with online link to live stream to come soon). We welcome and encourage you to join, and participate in the event. All are welcome and encouraged to get involved to help shape the future of housing in your local community!



Please call or email Alex to confirm your attendance.
[email protected] 01179141129

You can also confirm your attendance via the Facebook event here: https://buff.ly/3ugkbj7

23/01/2022

It has been a challenge. 80 residents-to-be. All managing other aspects of their lives, such as work, kids, covid, mental wellbeing, while learning how to build, and finishing off their homes as a collective. On top of this many of the group are in need of a home, struggling to cope with their existing housing situation. We have had delay after delay from the main contractors, which has pushed the project back time and again, which hasn't helped with the general anxiety levels of the group. Some of the group have had the capacity to be onsite lots, and some have really struggled.

However, with all this in mind, the dedication of the group has resulted in the completion of 21 kitchens, doors on, worktops fitted, sinks and hobs in. Skirting and architrave fitted in 15 homes. Tiling completed in bathrooms and showers in 17 homes, and decorating completed in 9 homes. Two bin stores ... mostly built, and a partially built bike store.

The cherry on the top is the residents-to-be in the first 8 homes have just had their four weeks notice.....TO MOVE IN.

Residents from across the whole project have pulled together to get this first phase over the line. Community in the making. It's not about everyone having to like each other, it's about collectively addressing a need and working together to make that happen for those that can, and for those that need extra support.

12/10/2021

Ecomotive and SNUG Homes' project "Home-Made Bristol" is a finalist for the ! Follow us and
for lots of other inspiring entries from across Europe. Thanks to , , , , and all at for your support!

This project focuses on practical, ecological, community-based housing solutions by creating a range of housing types, including self-build and self-finish homes, to meet local housing needs.

15/08/2021

We are on site. Whoop whoop. Starting in the first two houses. Tracey’s; and Huong and Ngoc’s

15/08/2021

Quiet and dormant, in anticipation of community. Sunday morning before inductions and training. The world of self-finish is about to commence.

12/06/2021

The project has taken some time. Brought forward by Bristol CLT and United Communities (now Brighter Places) as a 100% affordable housing project in Bristol. 50 homes, all to be delivered through the self finish model.
With solar PV, ground source heat pumps, and porotherm blocks to reduce heat loss through the walls, triple glazed throughout.

We are now so close to bringing the future residents to site to start the self-finish phase.