Plans to knock down the Premier Inn next to Bristol’s bus station and build what could become the tallest building in Bristol’s history may well be put on hold, after the city’s Civic Society launched legal proceedings against Bristol City Council over the project.
Lawyers acting for Bristol Civic Society have sent a ‘pre-action protocol’ - a legal letter warning that the council will face court action if it goes ahead and formally grants planning permission for the huge scheme, which would see a 28-storey block of student halls built next to an 18-storey block of ‘Co-living’ accommodation on the site next to the Bearpit.
The Civic Society has questioned planning officers' advice to councillors over a range of issues connected with the project, including the impact on historic listed buildings nearby, the need for more student housing and the impact actually doing the work will have on the city centre.
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The plans from developers Olympian Homes were hailed as 'exciting' by the outgoing Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, when they were first unveiled last June, and they were approved by councillors on a committee in early March. They decided to approve the idea in principle, and delegate a range of issues to planning officers to sort out, before the developers are officially awarded planning permission.
The Civic Society’s legal letter claims those issues left to planning officers covered things like fire safety and the effect on transport and were too important to be left to council officers to be sorted without councillors making the decision first.
The Society is now demanding Bristol City Council brings the planning application back before a committee to have a second go at deciding the application, and doesn’t press on with awarding formal planning permission.
The scheme is set to create 422 new rooms for students in a purpose-built student accommodation block, and 142 new ‘co-living’ homes, which is effectively shared flats in a similar set-up to PBSA student halls, but not for students.
“Lawyers were instructed by the Civic Society to look at the advice to councillors because some of it didn’t look quite right,” said a spokesperson for Bristol Civic Society. “The Society considers such a controversial proposal with longstanding and widespread impacts should be considered properly, not least when a number of councillors said their decision was finely balanced,” he added.
“Like anybody who cares about Bristol, the Society wants to see more affordable homes, and in numbers that make a difference. But the Society doesn’t support cutting corners: in liveability, tackling the climate emergency or in delivering good design. Bristol shouldn’t be panicked into accepting second-best.
"The sad legacy of previous ‘statement’ developments shows what happens when you do,” he added. When the plans were approved, the developer was positive about the impact the scheme would have on the area.
Mark Slatter, chairman of Olympian Homes, said at the time: “This development would replace a very tired building with what we hope will be the most elegant tall building in Bristol, helping relieve the pressure on wider family housing stock and providing 26 affordable co-living homes at key city workers, including those employed at the nearby Bristol Royal Infirmary.
“Co-living provides an accessible option for renters, costing about 25 per cent less than renting a one-bedroom flat. Our development would also transform the public space in this location. I can assure you that we will start the development this year, this will get built.”
It’s not the first time Bristol Civic Society has taken action after Bristol City Council has awarded planning permission to a controversial development in the city centre. After councillors voted to give the go-ahead to a major new development between Bristol High Street and Castle Park, the Civic Society appealed to the Government to intervene.
That ultimately failed when the Government minister said the council had acted properly in giving it planning permission, but the intervention delayed the project for around a year. Work on the scheme, to demolish the old bank and Norwich Union buildings at the southern end of Castle Park next to Bristol Bridge and build new offices and shops in their place, but is expected to start this summer.
