Willmott Dixon has been selected as contractor for Bristol's largest build-to-rent residential deal.

Bristol based Cubex Land will develop the residential scheme at Finzels Reach, close to where the Willmott Dixon is already building its BREEAM outstanding office called Aurora. The company will now expand its presence in this part of Bristol with the £46 million build-to-rent scheme that is expected to start on site in early 2017 and complete in 2019.

The block at Hawkins Lane

Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord will forward fund, acquire and operate the scheme which will create 194 homes for the private rental sector. The two blocks at Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf will contain a combination of one and two-bedroom apartments, expected to appeal in particular to ‘generation rent’, a population of young professionals with a mobile lifestyle.

Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in Bristol:

“Creating Hawkins Lane and Georges Wharf apartments together with Aurora offices will deliver a thriving new community in the heart of Bristol City Centre. Led by our committed and local team we are looking forward to making these exciting plans come to life.”

The block at Georges Wharf

Willmott Dixon has a large office in Bristol that has been behind some of the region’s biggest developments, including the new Colston Hall Foyer, Keynsham Town regeneration, University Technical College in North Bristol, Bristol University’s Centre for Nano Science and Quantum information, plus new Fire Stations for Avon Fire and Rescue at Temple Street, Kingswood and Hicks.

Gavin Bridge, Director of Cubex Land, said: “This is a fantastic inward investment in Bristol by a well-respected and experienced landlord. These contemporary-styled apartments are perfectly placed to complement the rest of our Finzels Reach apartments, hotel, offices and leisure space.

“Much has been talked about the build-to-rent sector but this is one of the first major schemes to get off the blocks, which we believe is testament to the approach we are taking at Finzels Reach, developing high quality spaces and creating a thriving, balanced community in the heart of the city centre.”

Finzels Reach is one of the largest mixed use developments in the South West and is the creation of Cubex Land, the Bristol-based company that took on the site four years ago, with investment from London-based Palmer Capital.

Once complete, Finzels Reach will be home and work to over 2500 people and will include 440 new apartments, two Grade A office buildings, a 168 bedroom Premier Inn which is due to open in 2017, plus a host of cafes, restaurants and a microbrewery. The 4.7 acre site has a rich history at the heart of the medieval city of Bristol, later becoming a sugar refinery and brewery.