Local businesses say they’ve been left in “no man’s land” while awaiting a demolition order for their building in Church Road.
Business owners who occupy the shops below the flats known as The Views say they are facing mounting financial pressure, more than one year after Bromford Housing Association (BHA) announced plans to demolish the block.
Many residents have already been relocated, affecting the footfall that businesses rely on.
Although local businesses have a guarantee that they can remain on site until at least December 2026, uncertain timescales and relocations are causing difficulties for the owners.
Raj, from Filton Post Office, sees no viable solution to continue working in Filton.
He said: “The time structure is so long that it’s left me in no man’s land.”
Bromford are proposing new retail units as part of the redevelopment, but it may take up to seven years to complete.
He said that moving to a new retail space whilst demolition work takes place isn’t an option.
He said: “We can’t wait in a container for years, and I personally cannot afford the cost of the refit on my own.”
Filton Post Office plans to remain on Church Road until the reconstruction work begins, despite a drop in income making it difficult to cover staff’s wages. He added: “It’s now a question of saying, can we get through it or not?”
Similarly, Stuart Gale, from Gale’s Farm Meats, feels Bromford will “never get the small units back in” following the redevelopment.
Stuart’s business is also unable to relocate during the reconstruction process, due to financial pressure and approaching retirement.
He said they were ‘on a knife’s edge’, as the butcher faces impending eviction and a drop in trade.
Last month, Filtonvoice reported that Down’s Bakery was forced to shut up shop in Church Road after 34 years in business.
After numerous complaints about the conditions of the flats, BHA said that the best long-term solution was to regenerate the site.
BHA is in active discussions with the local authority to submit a planning application in 2026.
Jake Rigby, BHA’s project manager, said: “Over the past year, our focus has been on supporting families to move into suitable new homes.
“Many have already relocated and we’re continuing to work closely with the remaining households to find them new homes that meet their needs.
“We’ve also remained in regular contact with local businesses.
“They have a guarantee that they can remain on site until at least December 2026, although some have already left and we will be proposing new retail
units as part of the redevelopment.”