Sovereign South + West’s official opening of Hapgood Street is taking place on Friday 21 August. Local residents decided a few months ago that it would be a fitting tribute for Eddie Hapgood, a local footballer from the Barton Hill area who represented both Arsenal and England, to have a street named in his honour in Barton Hill.
During Eddie’s playing days he moved to Arsenal in 1927 after first coming to the notice of Bristol Rovers while playing for St Phillip's Marsh Adult School Juniors. He then went on to enjoy a successful playing career and captained both Arsenal and England.
Sovereign South + West has been working with local partners and residents in the Barton Hill area since 2003. Sovereign has worked with Bristol City Council, Community at Heart, Solon SW Housing Association and local businesses to work on key projects such as providing new family housing, employment and business opportunity and improved community safety.
This is the launch of the second phase of new developments. A key focus for the Barton Hill redevelopment has been to provide improved homes and a safer and more sustainable community for local residents. So far Sovereign has delivered five developments and 75 homes have been made available under general needs rent, intermediate rent and New Build HomeBuy in Barton Hill.
The new Hapgood Street development contains 22 homes in a mix of two and four-bedroom homes. The development also won the ‘best affordable housing scheme award’ at the LABC South West Region Building Excellence Awards in June and has gone through to the national awards to be held later in the year. The homes are rated ‘very good’ on the eco-homes standard and provide spacious accommodation for those looking to get on to the housing ladder.
Terry Black, Neighbourhood Investment Co-ordinator for Sovereign South + West, noted, “It’s great that residents chose the name. Eddie Hapgood is still a local hero and we are looking forward to seeing our residents practise their football skills in the beat the goalie competition on the day.”
Mike Hapgood, who will be unveiling a plaque in the Hapgood Street development to honour his father, commented, “This is such a terrific honour, and my sister, brother and I are very proud and touched that Bristol people still hold the memory of my father in the their hearts. Even though he played at the highest levels of international football, he never lost touch with his Bristol roots.”
Bristol Councillor Mark Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing and Service
Improvement, said, "This development will provide much-needed affordable housing which will meet the needs of people wanting to rent as well as those looking to get on to the housing ladder.”
