Controversial plans for 819-bed student accommodation complex approved

Controversial plans for an 819-bedroom student accommodation complex in Bedminster branded a “giant wall across the city” have been approved.

Councillors voted by 5-3 to grant permission for the two buildings, which will range from three to nine storeys, despite 91 objections.

Development control committee members agreed with officers’ recommendation to give consent for the scheme, which is the biggest single site of the Bedminster Green regeneration project.

There will be a total of 82 “cluster units”, each with ten rooms for students, plus communal and kitchen areas, as well as flexible workspace on the ground floor, replacing a large car park and some industrial units between Dalby Avenue, Whitehouse Lane and Phillip Street.

Objections were lodged by dozens of residents, Windmill Hill and Malago Community Planning Group (Wham), BS3 Group, Bristol Civic Society and the Conservation Advisory Panel on grounds of height and scale, the impact on neighbouring Windmill Hill City Farm and lack of sunlight indoors.

A planning officer told councillors that most of the concerns were not supported by evidence and that the impact on nearby listed buildings was outweighed by the benefits.

These will include improvements to roads, transport and public spaces, such as 41 more trees, “living roofs” of wildflowers and opening up the Malago river, with developers Sydney Freed Holdings required to spend £636,000 on local infrastructure and carbon offsetting.

The River Malago will be opened up as part of the Bedminster Green development – CGI Deeley Freed

Max Freed from Deeley Freed said: “We’re delighted to be delivering this exciting, transformational development.

“It will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Bedminster Green, enabling the Dalby Avenue, Whitehouse Lane and river Malago improvements to be brought forward by the council.

“It will also significantly help the revitalisation of nearby East Street – over £5m of annual student spend will be a massive boost to the local economy.

“As a business, we recognise the importance of environmental and social responsibilities; the development will be BREEAM excellent, re-using a challenging urban brownfield site.

“It is sustainable, promotes the use of public transport and is virtually car-free. It also delivers an increase of 40 trees and over 1000 per cent biodiversity net gain.”

The Bedminster Green development area is made up of five plots, including Hereford Street car park, the open area at Providence Place, St Catherine’s Place shopping centre, and the land to the west of Hereford Street and to the east of Dalby Avenue – map: Bristol City Council

The plans are the fourth of the five Bedminster Green sites to go before planners. Two have already been given planning permission – at St Catherine’s Place and nearby Little Paradise on the East Street side of Malago Road.

A third, on the former Pring site, has been turned down twice by planners and appeals have been rejected. A fifth site, on land around the green of Bedminster Green, is in the early stages of the planning process, but local businesses are already objecting to being evicted to make way for that part of the regeneration project.

Main image: Deeley Freed

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