£100 million of fresh investment and up to 2,000 new jobs in the Bristol region came a step closer this Monday (13 Feb) as Ashfield Land triggered demolition on its site for ‘The Approach’, a major new corporate office development immediately adjacent to Bristol Parkway Station.

The Approach is a 160,000 sq ft (net) office development for which planning permission was granted by South Gloucestershire Council last year (June 2016). It will occupy a site off Hunts Ground Road, immediately east of Bristol Parkway Station, where site clearance and demolition work started this week.

The building will be one of the best-connected new office developments in Bristol and the Thames Valley – with direct access to the Great Western line, proximity to the M4 and M32, and on the new Metro bus service link into Bristol. These already impressive connections will only get better following electrification of and more frequent trains on the Great Western line (shortening journey times including to London in only 79 minutes) and when Crossrail (The Elizabeth Line) comes into service in 2017/18.

Chief Executive of South Gloucestershire Council Amanda Deeks joined James Digby, Director at Ashfield Land to mark the formal start of site clearance and demolition.

The Approach will appeal to businesses looking for an HQ building that combines connectivity and quality of workspace with affordability, security (the site is entirely self contained), sustainability and quality of life for staff*.

James Digby, Director at Ashfield Land, said: “Today is about bringing The Approach another step closer and readying the site for redevelopment. It’s a major milestone and means we have real momentum as we look to move forward into construction and, ultimately, providing a top quality occupier with a new home here in Bristol.”

Cllr Colin Hunt, Lead member for Planning at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We’re delighted to see this key development site coming forward. Situated next to Parkway station, The Approach will be an ideal location for bringing new business to South Gloucestershire and creating hundreds of new jobs.”

JLL, which is marketing the building, anticipates The Approach will appeal to a number of national and international businesses, not least because it offers such attractive connectivity and quality while having lower occupational costs than comparable office space in London, the South East and even Bristol City Centre.

Contractor ISG is carrying out the site clearance and demolition on behalf of Ashfield Land. As well as being the demolition contractor, ISG previously occupied the former office buildings on the site for more than 40 years (having originally moved in in 1974).

The site is off Hunts Ground Road, immediately east of Bristol Parkway Station. In addition to the excellent rail connectivity, a new link road is currently under construction offering almost direct access to the M32. Bristol’s new Metro Bus will also pass the site.