Is Bedminster ready for a high rise boom?

With Bristol now firmly established as a go-to destination, Bedminster‘s popularity is blossoming and seen as ripe with development opportunities.

A cluster of companies are vying for the chance to make the most of the ever-increasing boom and meet the city’s urgent housing need, but on the consultation deadline for one proposed high rise, concerns remain among many residents.

Plans for 183-home development, reaching up to nine storeys high on the Pring and St Hill site, Malago Road, include provision for just 30 affordable homes (15 per cent) – which falls well below the council’s target of 40 per cent – and have met with hundreds of objections.

The developers Rollo Homes, have revised their proposals several times in response to concerns from residents and Bristol City Council, but members of Windmill Hill and Malago Community Planning Group (WHaM) are still unanimously opposed to the application.

WHaM said: “The inclusion of affordable units is a positive step for the area, but a high number of buy-to-let properties may be detrimental.

“It is the view of the group that a successful development will be one that encourages social interaction between its residents and the wider community, promoting social inclusion and bucking the growing trend of social isolation and loneliness within our cities.

“A low rise development of mixed housing types and the inclusion of family accommodation will help this.

“There is a broader concern that the potential of over 500 people moving into the area will add to the strain of the existing overloaded medical and educational infrastructure, unless new provision is made, which has not been included in this proposal, and needs consideration in the developing proposals for the wider area.”

WHAM says it is in favour of development, but is concerned about the type and scale being proposed. Photo by Elfyn Griffith

Concerns also remain about increased pollution levels associated with high buildings and fears that surrounding homes will be completely overshadowed.

The revised planning document states: “Following further feedback and consultation with council officers in October and November 2017, design changes have been proposed involving a further reduction in height and quantum of residential units and a revised architectural language for Block C.”

At least four other developers have also set their sights on developing the area around Bedminster Green, prompting an open letter from the people of Bedminster to the mayor, urging him not to let the neighbourhood become an anonymous zone of badly thought-out tower blocks.

Of course, the city is badly in need of housing and Marvin Rees has pledged to build 2,000 new homes by 2020 – a target that Paul Smith, the council’s cabinet member for housing, says will be exceeded.

But he readily admits that getting the balance right between meeting an urgent need, and creating good developments, with enough public open space and amenities, is a difficult challenge.

The deadline to comment on Rollo Homes’ proposals is Wednesday, February 7. Residents can submit their responses online via the council’s planning portal.

Read more: Sector spotlight: property