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Cribbs Causeway expansion plans rejected
Controversial expansion plans for The Mall at Cribbs Causeway have been thrown out by the Government.
First announced in 2014, the £300m expansion of the South Gloucestershire shopping centre would have seen its capacity grow by another 50 per cent, with proposals to build more retail units, a hotel, a public square and a multi-storey car park.
Planning permission was initially granted in 2016, but the matter was later referred to a public inquiry due to its scale and the number of objections from neighbouring councils and business leaders.
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M&G Real Estate, the company behind the expansion plans said the investment would have “a huge and enormously positive impact, not just in terms of an economic contribution, but also job creation”.
Bristol City Council was among the opponents of the proposals – arguing that it would damage retail in Cabot Circus and Broadmead. The consensus among a cross-party group of councillors was that investment should be focused on the city centre and Broadmead regeneration plans.
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Read more: ‘We can’t afford to miss this opportunity to regenerate Bristol City Centre’
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The decision of Secretary of State James Brokenshire, revealed in a letter published on his behalf on October 1, is likely to raise further questions about the possibility of Bristol’s long-awaited arena being built in an out-of-town location just down the road from The Mall.
Mayor Marvin Rees met with fierce criticism when he shattered hopes for an arena on Temple Island in September – opting instead for a mixed-use development at the site.
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Read more: It’s official: There will be no arena at Temple Island
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Brokenshire’s decision, which due to be formally announced on Wednesday, could add weight to the argument that YTL’s plans for an arena in the Brabazon Hangar on the former Filton Airfield will negatively impact businesses in the city centre.
Improvements to infrastructure, including bus and cycle links, included as part of the expansion plans have also now been called into question as The Mall owners face going back to the drawing board.
A report on behalf of the Secretary of State agreed with the decision made at the public inquiry to refuse permission for expansion plans – largely due to the likely impact on Bristol and neighbouring city centres.
Read more: What to expect from the YTL arena in Filton
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