Bouverie Court, a housing development built in 2011, is also facing demolition. This has set into motion emergency relocation for its 21 households. Elim Housing, the organization managing the transition, has established a deadline for residents to find new homes by April 2026. Meantime, the residents are commencing a long and difficult search for new housing. Very soon they understand that expenses have skyrocketed, well beyond their current rental of about £600 a month.
As the demolitions breach upon Bouverie Court, community residents voiced fears of what’s to come for these spaces that have created meaningful memories for longtime residents. Others have been there since the development was created, and the prospect of having to move is deeply traumatic. The current private housing market in Bristol is extremely competitive, sending similar properties to upwards of £1,000 a month. This juxtaposition leads one to wonder about affordability for the many new transit riders on tighter budgets.
Elim Housing has been working diligently and collaboratively with the residents to make this a positive transition. Paul Smith from Elim Housing expressed optimism regarding the process, stating, “We’ve got some properties coming up ourselves and more coming through Home Choice that will be suitable. We’re hopeful that we can make a lot of progress between now and April.” So far, only two of the 21 households have been able to find permanent housing.
Bouverie Court residents are now in band one of Bristol City Council’s Home Choice housing allocation scheme. This amendment goes a long way toward making their relocation more bearable. This designation moves them to the front of the line in looking for new housing options. Smith promised residents that as long as people stay in their homes, Elim Housing will be there to help them. He issued this promise as the deadline looms ever closer. “If someone’s still there come April, we’re not going to put them on the streets – we will keep working with them to find a suitable alternative,” he stated.
Despite the efforts of Elim Housing, some residents have expressed concerns about finding appropriate housing that meets their needs and budget. A resident shared, “It’s heart breaking, when you feel like you have to move from your home and leave behind memories that you’ve built.” Another resident added, “As a new resident you are looking at over £1,000 [per month] minimum, but now I am paying around £600 and you can’t find something like that at this time.”
Oumaime Muhammed, a resident of Bouverie Court, echoed these sentiments, noting the difficulties in finding suitable housing: “The prices in Bristol are very high and a lot of the houses aren’t what we’re looking for.”
