Hartcliffe, like many other estates, first emerged in the wartime planning that envisaged a better peacetime Britain even as the bombs rained down. The ‘Plan for Post-War Housing’ approved by Bristol City Council’s Housing Committee in January 1943 estimated 18,600 new homes were needed to meet immediate needs and a further 12,000 to cater for slum clearance and future growth.
Paul Smith has been involved in civic life in Bristol for over three decades having first been elected to the City Council in 1988. He has served as chair of several council committees and as the cabinet member for Housing.
He also has an extensive career in the housing and charity sectors and is currently Chief Executive of Elim Housing Association and trustee of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Andrews Charitable Trust.
Paul grew up in Hartcliffe and has extensively researched the history of the area. His talk will cover why Hartcliffe’s story is an important part of Bristol’s history and how the original plans for the estate were degraded during its construction as set out in his book “Hartcliffe Betrayed”
Members will be invited by email to join the event.