A fire-ravaged bakery that went up in flames last summer will be repaired under new plans recently submitted. Each week Bristol City Council receives dozens of planning applications seeking permission for a whole range of developments.
Over the past seven days, those applications also included converting a B&B into mental health care accommodation for men and four proposed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Here’s this week’s round-up of notable planning applications submitted to the council.
Every week dozens are validated by the local authority and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications — whether in support or objection.
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The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Bristol City Council’s website.
Fire-damaged bakery
Repairs will be made to the former Pinkmans bakery which was gutted by fire last June. Eight fire engines were called to the blaze but fortunately no one was injured.
Plans have been submitted to bring the Grade II-listed building at the Clifton end of Park Street back into use to be re-let to a future tenant. Pinkmans opened a new bakery at Clifton Down Shopping Centre three months after the fire.
Mental health support
Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust wants to turn a B&B in Avonmouth into short-stay mental health accommodation for up to 10 men. The 19-bedroom Bradford Lodge in Avonmouth Road was bought last month by the trust, which says there is currently no provision of this type for males in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire, although an equivalent service for women has run successfully for nearly 15 years.
The planning application for a change of use has received a mixed reaction from neighbours. One wrote: “Having men with mental health issues roaming around the village would be a huge concern.
“There is nowhere in the village for them to go except the pub – this could cause more problems – or maybe the park where the children play. This would be a huge worry for parents.” But a resident who wrote in support said: “There is a lack of understanding of mental health with people who are complaining and objecting.
“They think someone being released from Broadmoor will be housed there for two weeks.” The service would be run by mental health charity Rethink which works with individuals suffering from emotional distress to keep them safe and well in the community. The men would stay for up to two weeks, with the premises staffed around the clock.
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Bedsits
A house in Hotwell Road, Clifton, would become an HMO for up to six people. The applicant has submitted the proposals to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate after ministers placed the city council in special measures over a huge backlog in decisions.
Planning documents say the property has been put on the market as a family home but no offers have been made, and the only interest was from buy-to-let purchasers who were turned off by the need to secure planning permission as the building is in a restricted area, called an Article 4 direction, for new bedsits. The Planning Inspectorate will make the decision but the council must publicise the application and submit comments.
Separate proposals would see an existing six-person HMO in The Ridge, Shirehampton, expand to house up to eight people, with six single beds and one double. Finally, a former insurance broker’s office spanning two neighbouring addresses in St Johns Lane, Bedminster, would become a pair of six-person HMOs.
Planning agents say all three applications comply with council policy as they would not lead to an overconcentration of bedsits in the areas.
