DWP announces closure of huge Jobcentre in south Bristol

A Jobcentre in south Bristol is due to close this summer. BristolWorld can reveal that the Knowle branch has confirmed it will close in a few months after BristolWorld visited the area.

Jobcentre Knowle is based within the Broadwalk Shopping Centre which has seen a string of closures in recent years owing to factors such as rising rent prices and falling footfall. Yesterday, one of the precinct’s largest stores, B&M, held a fire sale as it closed its doors for the last time - with many items selling for just 10p.

Jobcentre Plus is also one of the bigger units within the centre. Staff were informed that it would be closed soon but a pledge has been made to relocate them to other sites meaning there will not be any job losses.

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions told BristolWorld: “Bristol Knowle was a temporary site set up during the pandemic to accommodate social distancing. No jobs are being lost and all staff and services will be relocated to nearby Jobcentre Pluses in Bristol. This move will be completed by the end of July 2023”

Although it does not have the highest number of registered jobseekers, Knowle still has 275 claimants - around 3.3% of the neighbourhood’s working-age population.

The nearest branches are located in Bishopsworth, on Whitchurch Lane, and Bedminster, on Kent Street.