A housing association that was unable to secure remediation payments from a collapsed firm has confirmed that a block of flats in Bristol will be demolished in 2026
Residents of Bouverie Court in Easton were informed of the decision by Elim Housing, which is responsible for around 900 homes. As reported by Bristol Live, the 21-home development made up 14 self-contained flats and seven houses was built on the site of a demolished pub in 2011 by contractor ISG Pearce. In 2021, an external wall fire safety survey was carried out that identified an “extensive number of issues with the structure and build quality”.
Elim states that a number of interim safety measures were put into place, with the housing association going on to pursue a legal claim against the contractor to cover the cost of the remediation work, which was estimated to be around £4 million. However, in September 2024, ISG became insolvent and went into administration.
The housing association said in a statement: “As a smaller Housing Association with limited funds, Elim’s board has since made the decision that it is not financially viable to undertake the remedial works at the building.”
In a community meeting held on 8 February 2025, residents were told that they would need to move out of their homes by March 2026.
CEO of Elim, Paul Smith said: “The decision to demolish our Bouverie Court homes was extremely difficult, and our primary concern is the welfare of our residents.
“Unfortunately, the inherited repairs, poor efficiency, and structural issues identified at the scheme, along with the unviable potential long-term disruption for residents, means we have taken the hard decision to demolish the properties after exhausting all other possible solutions.
“Elim is working closely with local authorities and other housing providers to support our residents during the transition period.”
Following the demolition, the housing association added that it would “explore options that will prioritise future development that meets housing need in the local area”.
It comes amidst news that Bristol City Council has been in talks with Homes England to accelerate its 10-year-plan to remove expanded polystyrene (EPS) cladding from its high-rise residential buildings.
According to Bristol Live, John Smith, Executive Director of the Growth and Regeneration Directorate at the council, said: “We are in discussions with Homes England and the government about an acceleration plan. The assumption is that for the acceleration plan, which is five years, the funding would come from the government. It’s positive at the moment, but nothing is confirmed.”
(Photograph by Elim Housing Association)