HAB Housing, one of the UK’s most progressive and ambitious alternative housing developers, has announced that it will open the first HAB Studio in Bristol this October. The company will base its HQ at Temple Studios as part of the city’s Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, just minutes from Bristol Temple Meads station.
The company originally announced its intention to base itself in Bristol in 2013, when close to £2m was raised towards HAB’s growth plans via a record-breaking crowdfund campaign. Established in 2007 by West-Country resident Kevin McCloud, HAB was conceived as an alternative to highly-commoditised, bland and homogenous suburban housing. The business is now seeking to offer buyers access to custom build homes; letting people buy a home designed by them, for them and tailored perfectly to their needs.
Kevin McCloud, founder and Chairman of HAB said:
“We couldn’t have found a better home for our business than Bristol. Temple Studios is built for progressive, innovative businesses like HAB and is ideally attuned to our company’s values. To be part of a creative hub with lots of energetic, exciting companies alongside us can only help us grow and develop.
“We hope that it’ll be the springboard towards more schemes in the wider area as we’re really keen to develop in Bristol and are hoping to have at least one project in the City that we can get up and running to tie in to European Green Capital 2015. Oh, and we’re looking forward to welcoming friends, partners and HAB enthusiasts for a cup of tea in our new studio.”
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said:
‘It’s brilliant for Bristol that Kevin McCloud’s mould-breaking development company HAB has chosen the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone as the location for its first HAB Studio. As a leader in the development of sustainable new homes, HAB is particularly welcome as we move towards our year as European Green Capital in 2015. The enterprise zone is developing a growing reputation as home to many of the region’s most creative and innovative businesses so it is little surprise that companies like HAB are choosing to be a part of this vibrant cluster.’
HAB’s roots are in the West Country, having delivered its first award-winning scheme of 42 homes in Swindon (The Triangle, 2011) and having recently sold all 78 homes on its Applewood scheme in Stroud. It has several other schemes in planning and on the drawing board, many of which will be in the South West. Kevin McCloud is an ambassador for Bristol 2015.
