One of Bristol’s most prominent empty pieces of land could see purpose-built accommodation for 101 students and new offices, if plans proposed by a property developer go ahead. Godwin Developments wants to build on the empty site next to the Shell petrol station on Newfoundland Road at the bottom of the M32 in St Pauls, which has been left empty since an oil fuel suppliers business was demolished there in 2018.
The plans are for a seven-storey block of student accommodation, with offices on the ground floor. The developers have launched a consultation process before they submit a full planning application, and are holding a public information event on Monday next week - January 22 - to show their plans.
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The oil supplies business building was demolished in 2018 after council planners gave permission for a six-storey hotel to be built on the site in 2017. That development never happened and now the site has been sold on to Godwin Developments. The Moxy Hotel was built more recently on the same side of Newfoundland Way, on the other side of the petrol station, so Godwin has gone for student accommodation instead. It will be the national company’s first development in Bristol.
“Godwin has been seeking to invest in Bristol for some time and hence we are pleased to share proposals for our first scheme on Newfoundland Road with the community,” said Matt Chandler, the firm’s managing director.
“Our aim has always been to make the best use of this prominent site, which is too constrained for family housing but highly appropriate for students. St Paul’s is a unique area with a thriving community. We, therefore, want to protect family homes here from conversion into houses for student occupation while also improving and positively contributing to this part of the city. We are confident that our proposals would provide much-needed dedicated housing for Bristol’s student population and support the climate resilience and economic growth objectives of the city,” he added.
The developers are running a public consultation online until February 4 and are holding an information event at the St Pauls Learning Centre on Grosvenor Road on Monday, January 22, from 4pm to 7.30pm.
