Ashley Vale Action Group And Wildgoose Space

Responsible for award winning self build project The Yard, Bristol. We argue building developments should be community based, environmentally aware ventures. twitter.com/@avag_bristol

AVAG is a community action group that was formed in 2000 by residents of Ashley Vale, Bristol, concerned about the redevelopment of land in the area.

Ours is a story of the strength of local people power and the possibility of collective creative thinking.

AVAG believes that building developments should be community-based, environmentally-sensitive initiatives, rather than profit-driven commercial enterprises.

Determined to stop the developer McAlpine grabbing land and building 35 brick boxes for corporate profit; a not-for-private-profit company was formed to buy and re-develop the site via self build.

We successfully raised the initial purchase funds and achieved planning permission to create a mixed use development, combining affordable housing, work and leisure space. Our passionate slogan from the start was ‘building a community’.

In May 2001, we succeeded in buying the site, in order to create innovative and sustainable self-built housing, workshops and a community space, now known as The Yard.

13 years on, 41 homes have been self built and over 100 residents form part of a vibrant, thriving and award winning community.

We believe in community action and the possibility of grassroots change.

Our aims our:

To provide attractive, affordable work and leisure space for local residents to help sustain a strong sense of community, creative endeavour and enterprise within the neighbourhood of Ashley Vale (Wildgoose Space)

To continue to support innovative and affordable housing design and options in Bristol

To support and enable individuals and local group led community initiatives

To use Wildgoose Space, to support local and community based groups with affordable hire rates; and to run a programme of community enhancing and enriching events in the space

To seek to provide leadership and stewardship of the local (Ashley Vale) natural environment – through awareness raising and other organised activities, such as local work parties