Developer Socius to join our Bristol 'UK Innovation Cities' forum
Above: CGI of proposed Soapworks development in Bristol's city centre - image courtesy of Socius/Woods Bagot
Future Cities Forum is delighted that Mike Dodd, Development Director at Socius will be joining our 'UK Innovation Cities' forum this month.
Mike brings over ten years’ development experience from Quintain where he was a Senior Development Manager and played a key role in the delivery of over one-thousand homes across Wembley Park, the 85-acre regeneration scheme in North-West London which is the UK’s largest single Build-to-Rent development.
Prior to this, Mike spent two years as Development Manager at Capital & Counties, where he led a number of complex development projects within the Covent Garden estate and spent a further two years at developer Manhattan Loft Corporation, which is best-known for Chiltern Fire House and the revitalisation of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel at King’s Cross.
Mike oversees the delivery of Soapworks which will provide 180,000 sq ft of flexible workspace, 243 new Build-to-Rent homes and create space for independent retail and a vibrant food and drink offer, including Bristol’s first purpose-built food hall.
Socius describes the project:
'Commissioned by Gardiner Haskins in the 19th century, Soapworks has been home to manufacturing for hundreds of years.
With award winning architects Woods Bagot, we are sensitively respecting the original building while infusing a new identity that will reimagine the place for many years to come.
'Planned to be a new district with homes, workspace and cultural space; all set around a new public square including biodiverse green spaces, Soapworks will be connected to the city’s commercial centre at Temple Quay and the cultural quarter at Old Market.
Socius acquired the site in 2019 and secured planning consent for 166,000 ft2 of commercial space, 30,000 ft2 of FBLR space, and 243 residential units, as well as a listed building consent for the Soap Pan building. Socius has been working with Barings to push the sustainability credentials to a best-in-class level and to build in additional tenant amenities. Strip out and early enabling works began in Spring 2023, and construction is due to commence in 2024.'