ariel photo of Old Cinema site showing a row of houses covered in scafolding and opposite a row of brown clad houses.

Knowle West Local Lettings Policy & Old Cinema Site update autumn 2026

Information about the Knowle West Local Letting Policy and the latest updates from Stepnell the contractors developing the former Filwood Cinema development site.

Knowle West has a Local Lettings Policy. You can read more about it here. The aim of the policy is to improve access to local housing for local people. The policy prioritises local people for local homes. It was introduced in 2025, the Curo development on Broadbury road, Bert Abrams Close, was the first success of the Knowle West Local Lettings policy:

3 out of the 5 houses went gone to people with a local connection

7 out of the 11 flats have went to people with a local connection

August Housing Drop-in

As the old cinema on Filwood Broadway site nears completion (read the update below), Bristol City Council Community Development organised a housing drop in at Filwood Library in early August. Any one could drop in and get support with a housing query. There was support from BCC staff to help with updating HomeChoice with a local connection. Letting officers from BCC and Housing Matters available for additional advice. At the end of the day, Stepnell organised a site visit for local residents who were interested in applying for home on the old cinema site development. The group had a Tlook around the site and were able to see inside one of the, almost complete, new properties.

There will be another Housing Drop-in later in the year as the Leinster Avenue development completes. Following KWA Facebook page for updates and information.

Updates from Stepnell – August 2026

Stepnell would like to thank everyone in the local community and at Bristol City Council for the incredibly positive feedback we’ve received regarding the overall look and progress of the project. Thank you! 

Progress and Upcoming Works

Brickwork Complete: The exterior brick walls for all new blocks are now officially done. 

Roofing Milestones:  Block A1a has reached a key milestone with the completion of its signature top-floor roof structure. 

Safety First:  Fire protection and safety measures are now fully installed throughout every building. 

Moving Indoors:  Now that the buildings are weatherproof and secure, our focus shifts inside to fit out the brand-new living spaces. 

Coming up : Over the coming weeks, you’ll notice a big change around the site! Stepnell are taking down the scaffolding around the new apartment blocks to reveal their finished exteriors. On the ground, teams are beginning main drainage installations and starting work on the houses – laying rear patios, concrete slabs, and boundary fencing to bring the outdoor spaces to life.  

Team and Neighbourhood

There is a new face on site. Stepnell welcome John Boulton to the Filwood Broadway team. John joins the business as a new Project Manager, bringing extra leadership and support to ensure the site runs smoothly, safely and on schedule.  

Keeping the Neighbourhood Secure

To ensure the site remains completely safe and secure during quiet hours, we have partnered with Clifton Security. They are now actively managing the site’s night-time security after working hours finish for the day.  

As always, we are fully committed to working closely with the council to keep this project moving forward while minimising disruption to local residents. Stepnell deeply appreciate continued patience, neighbourly spirit and understanding.