Nestled just off the Bath Road between the intersections of Three Lamps and St Philips Causeway, Paintworks is a splash of colour on a busy and otherwise rather unexceptional commuter route. The complex is currently undergoing a bit of a transformation, and we thought it was time to find out more about what’s planned.
Paintworks exterior and The Tube Diner
What is Paintworks?
Paintworks is a 12 acre (522,720sqft) mixed-use development in the south of the Enterprise Zone, just off the Bath Road. It was opened in 2006 and is made up of work studios, live/work units, events space, a bar and flats. It’s primarily targeted at creative people and companies.
What kinds of businesses are there?
There are currently over 100 small and medium sized businesses based at Paintworks, alongside a central hub with a café/bar, performance space, gallery and events space. You can find out more about the businesses at Paintworks on its website – there’s everything from the product design company behind the British Olympic cycling team’s helmets to RIBA South West.
An exhibition at the event space
Who runs it?
Paintworks is run by Verve Properties, who also recently completed the Brew House on Jacob Street in central Bristol.
There’s a lot of work going on there at the moment; what’s being built?
Paintworks is expanding: the current work will provide around 6,700 square metres of new employment and commercial floor space, 11 live/work units and 210 houses and apartments. This work is being undertaken for housebuilding company Crest Nicholson in association with Verve.
Time lapse showing new structures going up at Paintworks. Produced by Paul Appleby
However, even more work is due in future. Once this phase of development is complete, another phase will begin. It will see the demolition of several old buildings to make way for the construction of four new buildings and associated public space, providing 1,887 square metres of bespoke commercial space and 92 residential units.
Artist’s impression of how the new Paintworks development could look
When will it all be finished?
It is anticipated that the works will be finished by 2018. It is expected that over 1,000 jobs will have been attracted to the site by then and that 250,000sqft of active space will have been created.
Find out more about the Paintworks on their website, liking them on Facebook or following them on Twitter.
