‘Hipsters’ bringing vibrancy to long neglected city districts

‘Hipsters’ have brought new life to areas of the city previously regarded as dormant, semi-derelict and virtual no-go zones.

That’s according to Helm Construction Chief Executive Gary Sheppard, who said trendy, upwardly mobile newcomers hadn’t been put off buying in areas many Bristolians regarded as rundown and neglected.

He comments: “New money is being brought into areas long considered to be virtually derelict. The process began with places like Southville – which became known somewhat jokingly as Lower Clifton – and has now spread around South Bristol and into the areas east of the city centre.”

Gary Sheppard was commenting on recent figures from a leading property website which claimed that Hipsters had taken advantage of depressed prices in less desirable areas of the city – and created micro-communities of their own.

“Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh have been tipped as “hipster hotspots” – attracting people in to the city and pushing up house prices in places like Stokes Croft, St Pauls and Monteplier up by almost 40 per cent since 2011.

“It’s clear Hipsters have made previously unattractive areas some of the hottest property in the city.

“The so-called gentrification process has even reached into St Pauls – which has been restored to splendour as quality apartments spring up in the fine Georgian squares near the city centre.”