A local railway campaign group has staged an event to mark the completion of a major infrastructure project which will help provide more reliable services for rail passengers travelling to and from local stations in the Bristol North Fringe.

On Friday 22nd February, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) held a ‘party’ on the platform at Filton Abbey Wood Station to celebrate the success of the four-tracking of Filton Bank.

Network Rail completed the bulk of the engineering work in November 2018. The extra two tracks have resulted in a substantial improvement in recent reliability of local services as local stopping services now run on separate lines to the faster intercity services.

At the event, FOSBR chair Rob Dixon thanked Network Rail representatives for their successful delivery of the project Network Rail were represented by Andy Spencer (senior programme manager, West of England) and GWR by John Lanchester (regional stations manager).

Those present shared a ‘four-track’-themed cake and sang Morningtown Ride accompanied by a ukulele – “Rocking, rolling, riding, via Abbey Wood, all bound for Temple Meads, not so far away” (with apologies to The Seekers).

Tim Bowles, West of England mayor, attended and said:

“I’m delighted with the new platform at Filton Abbey Wood, which supports my ambitious plans to improve our rail network, including direct services between Severn Beach and Bath, re-opening Henbury station and a brand new station at Portway. I am also working with North Somerset Council on plans to re-open the line to Portishead. I am committed to working with all partners to ensure the West of England has a railway service that is fit for the future.”

More: FOSBR wants a half-hourly service to all Bristol local stations »

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Engineering giant GKN Aerospace has announced plans to build a £32 million research and development facility on the former Rolls-Royce East Works site south of Gipsy Patch Lane.

The Global Technology Centre (GTC) will be built on a plot fronting onto the A38, immediately south of the new Village Hotel which opened it doors in December.

A planning application for the new centre was submitted in November by Horizon 38 developer MSF Filton Ltd, who will lease the building to GKN Aerospace on completion.

Expected to open in 2020, the new centre is funded by a £17m commitment from GKN Aerospace and a £15m commitment from the UK government, through the Aerospace Technology Institute.

Once open, the 10,000sqm facility will host 300 highly skilled engineers, and will include space for collaborative research and development with universities, the UK’s Catapult innovation network and GKN Aerospace’s UK supply chain.

The centre will focus on additive manufacturing (AM), advanced composites, assembly and industry 4.0 processes to enable the high rate production of aircraft structures. The GTC is intended to help maintain GKN Aerospace’s position at the forefront of technology development for the next generation of energy efficient aircraft. The facility will serve as a base for GKN Aerospace’s technology partnership in the Airbus ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ technology programme as well as new additive manufacturing programmes.

GKN Aerospace’s chief executive Hans Büthker said:

“GKN can trace its engineering heritage back to the 18th century and we are proud of our role as a leading player in the UK’s world leading aerospace sector.”

“The GTC will ensure we continue to develop new technologies that deliver for our customers, making aircraft more sustainable and economical. It will also support our 4,000 strong workforce in the UK, ensuring they remain at the cutting edge of the global aerospace industry.”

More: Carshop ‘used car supermarket’ will be a near neighbour of GKN »

A new 153-room ‘concept’ hotel has opened at Horizon 38, the new business park that is rapidly taking shape on the former Rolls-Royce East Works site in the Bristol North Fringe.

Village Hotel Club Bristol, located on the corner of the A38 and Gipsy Patch Lane, also houses a state-of-the-art gym, a pub/restaurant (known as the Village Pub and Grill) and a Starbucks coffee shop.

Tailored to the needs of modern workers and travellers, the new development also offers a unique hot desking Business Club, VWorks, creating flexible and convenient co-working spaces for both small and medium-sized businesses. Smaller meeting pods are also available to accommodate private meetings for just two to six people.

The hotel’s large state-of-the-art gym features ‘The Trip’, a spin studio which creates digital worlds to cycle through using a cinema-scale screen and sound system for a completely immersive experience. The Village Gym is also home to a 20-metre indoor swimming pool and whirlpool with a range of relaxation facilities, including a luxury steam room and sauna.

The gym also offers a timetable of over 100 fitness classes a week.

Guests staying at the hotel can choose a high-spec standard room, or opt to upgrade to a Club room, which includes access to the Village Gym, classes, swimming pool and exclusive Village Business Club.

Designed to enhance every aspect of the guest experience, the hotel is equipped with smart technology throughout. Huge TVs, high power showers and big comfy beds are a standard at Village, while each Club bedroom is fitted with a virtual concierge, the Amazon Alexa, and includes free access to the Village Gym and the VWorks facilities.

More: "A place where people want to come and spend the day" »

Landmark building on corner of Gipsy Patch Lane and Gloucester Road due to open in November.

As north Bristol’s newest hotel nears completion at Horizon 38 in Filton, more deals have been announced at the rapidly developing 60-acre business park, one of the biggest mixed-use schemes of its kind in the country.

The Village Urban Resorts 153-bed hotel, which is located on the corner of the A38 and Gipsy Patch Lane, is quickly becoming a landmark in the area. Seven storeys high, the hotel, which is due to open in November this year, is clearly visible from the A38. The business class hotel will feature a business and events HUB, and a state-of-the-art health and fitness club including swimming pool, bar and restaurant. It is expected to create 100 new jobs for the area.

Paul Hobbs at GVA, joint letting agent with JLL for developers St Francis Group and iSec at Horizon 38 says:

“Village Urban Resorts is a high profile and successful national brand, which we are very pleased to have anchoring the new commercial park within Horizon 38.”

“Together with Selco Builders Warehouse, which opened its doors to customers in May, the hotel has without doubt acted as a catalyst for the wider employment and industrial development, with two new occupiers, LSI Workplace Europe, and Motor Parts Direct, the latest to become a part of the business community here.”

LSI Workplace Europe, provider of office furniture installation and relocation services, is now open and trading, having relocated from Avonmouth to be a part of Horizon 38. Motor Parts Direct has also chosen Horizon 38 for its latest branch supplying quality car parts to the independent garage industry. Motor Parts Direct is expecting to be trading from its new unit in September.

More: New units aimed at firms in manufacturing and logistics sectors »