Brownfield sites capable of delivering hundreds of homes for the community are ‘hiding in plain sight’ across the West.

And a great many of them are old filling stations.

That’s according to fast-growing builders Helm Construction, who say the newly-announced housing scheme creating 150 apartments on a vacant site next to the A4 Bath Road in South Bristol demonstrates what can be achieved on similar, vacant sites.

Construction Director Jon Ticehurst said: “This site has been sitting there since the old filling station closed down. Thousands of people have driven by it wondering when it would be brought back into the public realm.

“It’s not the only Brownfield site along the A4 and there similar concentrations of old filling stations, derelict industrial or commercial sites and empty shops dotted along every other key route into the city capable of delivering hundreds more homes.

“We believe it is imperative these sites are developed in order to reduce demand on the shrinking green fields on the outskirts of Bristol.”

Jon Ticehurst said he had lost count of redundant filling station sites on the main commuter routes.

“Most of them appear to have been taken over by hand car wash teams. While these are a great help in keeping your car clean it would make far more sense to see these sites used for housing to benefit the whole community.”

Helm Construction are active on a number of Brownfield sites across the city and have recently extended operations along the M4 and M5 axis.

The 1.18 acre Brownfield site on the Bath Road has been acquired by a London-based property group which is aiming to deliver 159 apartments.

Welcoming news of the development, Jon Ticehurst said: “Filling stations have been closing at an alarming rate –there used to be a petrol station in every neighbourhood and most large villages but the growth of the large supermarket chains offering cheaper fuel has pulled the plug on many of them.

“The Government’s decision to end the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and small vans by 2040 will pile more pressure on the remaining independent filling stations- resulting in more closures.

“This will create even more Brownfield Land which should be fast-tracked for development.

“Given the chronic shortage of new and affordable housing it is essential these sites – hiding in plain sight on most main routes into Bristol – are not left derelict for decades as this one has been.

“Although there may be contamination issues to overcome – as there are on many Brownfield Sites – they cannot be left to rot while there are so many Bristolians needing a home.”