Bristol Zoo boss defends redevelopment of Clifton site ahead of decision day

The boss of Bristol Zoo said its former Clifton site “will have biodiversity, conservation and the environment very much at its heart” if the charity’s plans are granted planning permission.

Councillors are expected to vote on Tuesday, April 25 whether to allow the redevelopment of the land that housed Bristol Zoo for 186 years, before it closed in September 2022 in a landmark moment.

The application, submitted by Bristol Zoological Society, includes about 200 homes, a new cafe, exhibition space, play area and theatre and public toilets and sees the much-loved gardens converted into a public park. Bristol City Council planning officers have recommended the plans for approval.

But the proposal has been met with intense opposition from a campaign group called ‘Save Bristol Zoo Gardens’, members of which claim the zoo’s move to Wild Place Project in South Gloucestershire is being done to make money from the sale of the Clifton site to developers.

But Dr Justin Morris, the zoo’s chief executive, defended the decision to close the zoo, arguing that the relocation to the north of the city makes sense from a conservation, animal welfare and financial perspective.

Dr Justin Morris is the chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, a conservation and education charity which runs and operates Bristol Zoo Gardens and the Wild Place Project – photo: Barbara Evripidou

“Fundamentally, it was a discussion about long term strategy,” Morris told Bristol24/7.

“The charity has existed for a very long time but in recent years has really struggled financially and it was becoming increasingly difficult, in particular with the effect of the pandemic, to see how the charity could sustain itself long term.”

“Conversation really became one about the priorities of the charity and how we can ensure the greatest possible investment in our conservation work, our education work and also the welfare of our animals.

“I think everybody appreciates that the Clifton site is only 12 acres inside, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods – not a site that’s fit for the 21st century in terms of what a modern progressive conservation zoo should look like.”

Morris said the society evaluated “a range of different scenarios”, but settled on closing Bristol Zoo to make way for “a zoo which is progressive, leading in terms of conservation and education and one that enables visitors to connect with nature and conservation activity” at Wild Place Project, which sits by the M5 at Cribbs Causeway.

The plans would give the public access during the day as a park for leisure and recreation and curated events in the evenings – image: Kin Creatives

Bristol’s Zoological Society’s planning application includes the creation of 196 new homes built at the southern end of the zoo site mainly in areas where there are already structures. Twenty per cent of the mixture of houses and flats in apartment blocks would be ‘affordable’ and there would be free access to the 200-year-old gardens for visitors.

Morris added: “There will be lots of reasons to continue to enjoy the Bristol zoo gardens site.

“There’s investment in art and sculpture trails and investment in a new, free to access conservation hub where people will be able to participate in some activities and programmes related to the wildlife of the site and of the downs.

“There’ll be a nice cafe with good coffee and cake and people will be able to enjoy the zoo without any barriers as, for the first time in its history, people will be able to walk in there for free.”

Meanwhile, others have presented several alternative visions for the site, from an ‘augmented reality zoo’ and public garden attraction to reopening the zoo.

But Morris said these options are “not viable” and Bristol Zoological Society are best placed to decide the zoo’s fate due to its knowledge and experience in conservation.

“The future of zoos lies very much in much larger, more suitable spaces that enable us to actively connect to people with conservation,” Morris said.

“I don’t think that options for the Bristol Zoo Gardens site that have been mentioned on occasion by the ‘Save Bristol Zoo Gardens’ campaign group go anyway towards achieving that kind of vision.

“I don’t think that those options are viable for that reason.”

‘Save Bristol Zoo Gardens’ campaigners marched from the Victoria Rooms at Clifton Triangle to the zoo site on March 12 – photo: Mia Vines Booth

In March, hundreds of people, including former Bristol mayor George Ferguson, took part in a demonstration calling for the reversal of the decision to close Bristol Zoo Gardens, as part of a vocal campaign against the zoo charity. More than 9,000 have signed a petition against the site “being turned into a luxury housing estate”.

“It’s been hard at times, and I think there’s quite a lot of misinformation about our plans and the basis for them,” Morris said.

“Some of the things that have been said, in particular about the animals, have been difficult to hear, because it’s simply not true.

“I think, ultimately, that the ‘Save Bristol Zoo’ campaign group is really concerned about housing being developed in Clifton.

“I don’t think that they’re particularly concerned about animal welfare, or our strategy in terms of conservation and education.

“We believe fundamentally that the strategy that we’re pursuing is absolutely the right one.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• New zoo to be built at Wild Place from 2024
• Campaign groups demand protection of all trees on zoo site
• Is there behind the Bristol Zoo parking attendant myth?

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