‘Disappointing’ revised plans for north Bristol retirement village

Revised plans submitted by developers hoping to build an ‘eco retirement village’ in north Bristol have been met with frustration from local campaigners.

St Christopher’s Action Network (SCAN) claim, despite hundreds of formal objections being lodged against £85m proposals for a site in Westbury Park in recent months, latest proposals see “no substantial alterations” and “only a few minor tweaks”.

Three companies working together want to build 116 ‘extra care’ homes, consisting of a five-storey apartment block and a collection of two-storey cottages, on land that used be St Christopher’s School – which closed down in 2019 after Ofsted discovered serious safeguarding concerns.

The scheme would see parts of the former special needs school demolished, with some buildings, such as the grade II listed Grace House, kept and transformed into housing, a wellness centre and cafe. The FORE Partnership, Amicala and Socius lodged a planning application with Bristol City Council in February.

The extra care model provides independent living for older people, who buy their own home, but have access to communal facilities and care based on their need. Developers said that plans for the retirement community, which would be “net zero in operation”, aim to “address the shortage of specialist accommodation in Bristol for older people”.

But, following the submission of updates to the planning application on Friday, local campaign group SCAN continue to oppose the scheme on the five-acre site at the edge of the Downs.

SCAN was set up by local residents to campaign for a ‘sensitive and appropriate’ development of the site – image: Ambitious PR

The group’s main issues with the development revolve around overdevelopment in a conservation area close to the Downs, loss of heritage, road safety, environmental impact, affordable housing provision and loss of a SEND school.

Latest updates include a reduction of one storey for the tallest block, from six to five, and the total number of housing units reduced from 122 to 116. Vehicular access has also been taken away on Etloe Road.

Pam Kaye, SCAN member and Westbury Park resident, called the plans “incredibly disappointing”.

She said: “Yet again, the developers have failed to listen to the concerns of our community, national bodies and independent experts.”

The scheme would see St Christopher’s, a former residential school for children with severe learning disabilities and complex needs run by private provider the Aurora Group, demolished – photo: SCAN

Kaye continued: “Nothing substantial seems to have changed; a few tweaks here and there that do not amount to the radical rethink this scheme needs. There will still be 116 housing units crammed onto the site – that’s a reduction of just six.

“The bottom line is that it’s still too densely packed, there’s no increase in parking spaces, no meaningful SEND provision, no affordable housing, and a questionable landscape strategy.”

SCAN also highlighted the fact there has been no increase in parking spaces, which will impact traffic and safety in surrounding streets. A recent objection on the council’s planning portal describes the scheme as “overbearing and huge and totally out of character to the area”.

“To return with only a few minor alterations shows a complete lack of respect to the vast numbers of people who gave up their time to write in with their thoughts and suggestions,” Kaye added.

The team behind the retirement village said that they “carefully considered additional feedback received via the community, independent surveys, and further written and verbal feedback from stakeholders and Bristol City Council, the development team has made improvements to the plans”.

Mike Dodd, Socius development director, Socius, said: “Since our initial submission, we have been engaging with Bristol City Council officers, collating the statutory responses, and comments made directly to us and via the planning portal. With this feedback in mind, we have updated our plans to improve St Christopher’s Square.”

The updated plans are available to view on the council’s planning portal and more information on St Christopher’s Square is available at www.stchristophersbristol.com.

There now follows a further consultation process over the Christmas and New Year period when people can register their comments on the council’s planning portal here.

Main photo: Ambitious PR

Read next:

• Two countryside sites on Bristol’s outskirts at risk of development
• Pub of the week: the Westbury Park
• Special needs school site to become residential homes

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