Proposals for purpose-built student accommodation at Filton Retail Park

Canada Life Asset Management, in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), is bringing forward proposals for a development of purpose-built student accommodation at Filton Retail Park. The project will be delivered by Canada Life and operated by UWE.

The site is located within Stoke Gifford District Centre, in close proximity to UWE’s Frenchay campus.

Half the development site is currently used for car parking for Filton Retail Park, whilst the other half is vacant land that previously formed the garden centre operated by B&Q, which ceased trading in this location in 2016.

The proposal will help support the continuing success of Stoke Gifford District Centre by bringing a resident population to the Centre and increase local expenditure.

It will also form part of UWE’s strategy for fulfilling their current shortfall in student accommodation, which will help reduce the pressure on the local housing stock from Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). The scheme will provide a range of rental rates for new students, and its close proximity to the Frenchay campus will reduce the need for students to commute and put pressure on the transport network. 

Following initial feedback from South Gloucestershire Council and Design West, Canada Life Asset Management and its project team shared the proposals with neighbours and stakeholders before submitting a planning application in March 2022. 

The planning application can now be viewed on the Council's planning portal, using the reference P23/01230/F.  

William Liew, UWE Chief Financial Officer, said: 

“UWE aims to provide accommodation to all new students who request it. In order to achieve this aim we need to deliver in excess of 6,000 bed spaces to help fulfil our current shortfall. These additional beds are being commissioned in four phases and Filton Retail Park is a key part of this."