This month’s catch up from Mel our CEO, who shares an update about the building that will replace our beloved Cameron Centre.
The very first thing I had to do when I joined LNT as CEO way back in September 2024 was hand over the keys to the Cameron Centre – our beloved community centre – to Bristol City Council.
It was a difficult decision for LNT to make. The Cameron Centre was a longtime community space in Lockleaze, hosting a community hall, a library and a kitchen. It hosted many classes, playgroups, and sports clubs as well as countless birthday parties, dances, weddings, funerals and celebrations. It was a cherished place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together as a community.
But the building had become dilapidated and costly, and we knew that Bristol City Council demolishing it (along with the old Police Station) would mean much needed social housing would be built in Lockleaze, providing 37 new homes – something our community had told us they really needed in the Our Lockleaze Community Plan.
Bristol City Council and builders Stepnell have been working on the site ever since and now in 2026, the end of that building is in sight. By spring 2027 the flats will be completed, all of them available for social rent and 50% available to eligible local residents as part of the Lockleaze Local Lettings Policy. Please do come and talk to us at the Hub if you want more information about how that works.
What Next?
We’re excited to say that as part of this housing development, Lockleaze will get a new community centre in the block that overlooks Gainsborough Square, meaning that we’ll have community buildings right across the top of the Square.
The upcoming Lockleaze Community Plan – and recent community conversations – have made it clear that the Lockleaze community want more spaces for togetherness, including rentable spaces and places providing healthy food, drink and shelter.
So we’re planning the following for the new community centre:
● A new Community Hall which will be rentable for events, groups and classes – with
discounted rates for local residents just like the Hub Hall. This new hall will also have a large community kitchen attached to help us all to get cooking and eating together.
● A Reception Area with offices that will host small rentable spaces and perhaps amenities likes a Lockleaze Free Shop/ Community Fridge – we’re open to suggestions.
● A new Lockleaze Community Cafe on the corner of Gainsborough Square and Cameron Walk that will be open every day, and will be a safe and welcoming space serving low cost nutritious food and drink. We know that this is something Lockleaze is crying out for as a space to meet and see each other in real life.
● A new Lockleaze Library that we are hoping to host in the new cafe – offering Bristol
Libraries an affordable way of bringing a much requested library back to Lockleaze (don’t forget that you can still order books online and pick them up at our Hub).
We’re still negotiating with Bristol City Council over the rent for the building, because the less money Community Hubs like us spend on rent, the more we can do with our community. After all, community buildings should belong to the community. And because of the way the site has been developed, LNT will have to raise £100K + to fit out the Lockleaze Community Cafe, in order to make it the sustainable, welcoming and creative space we all want it to be. If you know any millionaires, please let us know…
Finally, although the housing blocks on Cameron Walk have now been voted for by the community during a recent Naming Day run by Stepnell and Bristol City Council, the Lockleaze community will still get to decide what we call the new Community Centre. Our LNT Community Connectors will soon be out and about across Lockleaze – and on a street near you – to listen to what you want to see in the new space.
Because after all the demolition, building and change is done, this new Community Centre is for all of us in Lockleaze, together. We can’t wait to open the doors and welcome everyone in.
Got any thoughts about the above you want to share? Pop into the Hub or email us on
info@lockleazent.co.uk.