Marshall Walk, Bristol
A social housing development of 12 zero operational carbon studio apartments
Marshall Walk is a pioneering social housing development in the heart of Inns Court, Bristol, delivered by ZED PODS in partnership with Bristol City Council (BCC). The project provides 12 1B 1P (37 sq m) high-quality, zero-operational-carbon homes for single-person households, including half for single homeless people.
Project Information
Client: Bristol City Council
Location: Marshall Walk, Inns Court, Bristol
Building Solution: Permanent
Scope of works: RIBA Stage 4 – 7
Status: Construction Complete
Project Team
Existing Site
The site is a brownfield plot located at the heart of the Inns Court community on the junction of Inns Court Avenue and Marshall Walk. Given the surrounding facilities in this area and the good transport links, this site is considered to be highly sustainable and is therefore supported by national and local planning policy for a residential led development.
Brief
Building affordable & energy-efficient homes contributing towards Bristol's One City Plan.
The project is being developed in conjunction with Bristol Housing Festival (BHF) and Innovate UK. The aim is to deliver sustainable, high quality, affordable accommodation using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in the form of modular homes.
A key deliverable of the scheme is a commitment to contributing towards Bristol’s One City Plan, to provide affordable secure and warm homes, so that Bristol will be a sustainable city, with low impact on our planet and a healthy environment for all.
Overcoming Site Barriers
The project site presented several physical, logistical, and contextual challenges that had previously stalled delivery.
We tackled a complex site with steep topography, privacy concerns, and limited access. Our modular, stepped design worked with the natural slope, reducing visual impact and easing access. We reconfigured window placement and roof pitch to prevent overlooking and overshadowing, while lowering building height for seamless transport. With no space for cars, we promoted active travel through secure cycle storage, walkable links, and well-lit pedestrian routes—turning constraints into smart solutions.
Smarter by Design
Design Adaptation and Offsite Delivery
We reworked an inherited scheme to meet the demands of modular construction—without altering the approved footprint. Through a detailed technical review and planning amendment, we lowered the building height by 330mm for better transport and reduced visual impact, while keeping generous 2.5–2.6m ceiling heights.
Window layouts were refined for symmetry, daylight, and privacy. Upgraded materials and triple-glazed units boosted thermal performance and aligned with our low-carbon standards.
A major sustainability win: we expanded the solar array from 3 to 14 panels per roof—delivering 3,000 kWh of clean energy per home each year, helping us drive towards net zero.
Placemaking and Urban Integration
Set at the heart of a busy community junction, this project transforms a once underused, vehicle-dominated plot into a well-connected, people-focused space. The stepped modular design follows the site’s natural slope, softening mass and reducing visual impact.
Homes are oriented for optimal sunlight and privacy, wrapped in red brick and metal cladding that nods to both nearby homes and the adjacent community centre. Ground-floor units have their own defensible space, while private staircases give upper homes a sense of ownership.
New landscaped zones create shared and semi-private spaces, strengthening connections with the wider public realm. With no on-site parking, the scheme embraces car-free living, supported by excellent walkability and access to local shops and transport.
Social Impact
We delivered 115% of our contracted social value—cutting carbon, recycling construction waste, supporting local supply chains, and investing in skills, well-being, and employment.
As the UK’s largest employer under the Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) programme, we’ve supported 31 day-release prisoners in our factory. These individuals earn a living wage, pay tax and victim support, and prepare for life after release. On this project alone, 12 prisoners trained alongside our team, contributing to a reoffending rate below 3%—saving UK taxpayers £1.4 million.