Generator South West are redeveloping the Chocolate Factory in Easton into houses and flats. I’ve lived in Easton for years but don’t know if I can afford it much longer. I’m a mature student in my final year. I also work several days or nights a week. My partner works full-time but we’re still struggling to pay the rent.

Council policy says any development should include 40% affordable housing but Generator South West is refusing to build even one affordable home. Building homes that local people can live in is apparently ‘unviable.’ What they mean is that they are too greedy for profit to include any. This is outrageous and must be stopped. I am calling for Generator to respect local policy and guarantee 40% affordable housing of which 50% must be social housing.

Last year Easton house prices rose by 25% and in the area around the Chocolate Factory by almost 30%. By excluding affordable housing from this development Generator also excludes local people from enjoying these areas and making them home. I’m not willing to see this happen and will fight to get a fair deal.

Developers see our local areas as money-making opportunities. They don’t see the pubs, schools, temples and parks as community support networks that have taken years to build. These are made and used by local people and are broken up when expensive housing pushes us further out and scatters our communities.

Easton is not an investment opportunity, it is a community. For nearly three years I’ve been a member of ACORN, campaigning for decent and fair housing. This will hit our members and other locals hard. This is happening all over Bristol and we need to stop it now.

Please sign this petition and together we will show Generator South West that they must respect our community.