It will not be until 2015 at the very earliest that work can begin to redevelop the Westmoreland House and Carriageworks site on Stokes Croft.

Knightstone Housing Association have now been chosen to submit a final tender for the project, but at a public meeting yesterday their lead architect admitted the difficulties that lie ahead, not least the fact that he has not been able to step foot on the site which is owned by London-based Comer Homes.

Work on the draft proposals is continuing, but a compulsory purchase order will need to be secured in order for the works to go ahead, with Comer Homes likely to value the site in the region of £7 million and then take any council decision to appeal.

The Carriageworks Action Group estimate that work can be completed by 2017, but with the number of hurdles still to be jumped, this looks very optimistic.