Key Updates from contractors Bray & Slaughter  

The temporary parking restrictions remain in place around the Filwood Community Centre. This includes the closure of a section of Barnstaple Road at the front of the site to keep the public safe and allow construction vehicles clear access to the work area. This will be in place for the duration of the project.

Construction Progress

The new roofing works are complete. The brick wall to the front extension is progressing with block work complete and the installation of the cobble finish well underway. The cladding to the external walls on all three extensions is also nearing completion and most of the windows and doors have now been installed.

Landscaping works are progressing to the rear of the building including finished paving and ongoing ground works.

Internally, most of the new ceilings have now been installed together with the new partition walls. These areas have also been plastered, with some receiving their first coats of paint. The electrical and mechanical installation is also progressing well along with the internal carpentry works. The platform lift to the rear extension has also been installed.

Upcoming Activities

The cladding and external masonry facade works will be completed over the next three months. Internally, floors will be insulated and new floors installed. Joinery within the new library will be installed in October, and the new internal doors and glazed screens are due to arrive in September – following the installation of the new flooring. The internal carpentry will also be progressed throughout the building. The plastering and painting of new walls and ceilings will continue over this period. This will include painting a mural within the children’s library area during August and September. The building sign over the main entrance is also planned to be installed in September.

Social Value

The Filwood Community Centre project is providing opportunities for local people to learn more about careers in construction. Recent site visits and work experience placements have helped students and jobseekers gain valuable insight into the industry. Supporting students Through Work Experience. For Year 10 Work Experience Week, we welcomed two students from E-ACT Merchants Academy in Withywood, followed by two students from Bedminster Down School. The students spent the week in our Bedminster office, learning about different careers in the industry, and how each role contributes to the successful delivery of construction projects.

A highlight for the students was a behind-thescenes tour of the Filwood Community Centre site with the Senior Site Manager Ed, giving them the opportunity to see first-hand how different roles work together to bring the project to life.We hope the experience inspired the students to explore the many exciting opportunities available within the construction industry, and we wish them every success in Year 11 and with their GCSE exams next year.

SWAP Participants Visit Filwood Community Centre

We recently welcomed two groups taking part in the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) to the Filwood Community Centre site. The first group visited through Partners in Bristol, followed by a second group from The Restore Trust. During the visits, participants had the opportunity to see a live construction site in action and hear directly from our site team about the wide range of career opportunities available within the industry. They also learned about current skills shortages across the sector and the growing demand for new talent, providing valuable insight into potential routes into employment. We were pleased to support the visits and showcase the opportunities available within the construction sector to people considering their next career step.