New development could encroach on historic Redcliffe homes

Millions of people across the UK are now aware of the history of Guinea Street in Redcliffe thanks to number 10’s starring role in A House Through Time.

But residents of the road, and in particular the historic trio of homes of which number 10 is part, are currently fighting a planning application which could see two new houses constructed just metres from their properties.

The 18th century houses back on to land owned by City & Country, the developers of The General, a collection of new homes on the former Bristol General Hospital site.

No affordable housing has been built as part of the scheme and Bristol24/7 understands that City & Country has contributed no money to Bristol City Council under a Section 106 agreement, which can be used to help fund affordable housing as well as roads, parks and youth services in the local area.

Bristol24/7 also understands that City & Country originally planned to rebuild the historic Ogee Dome – which sat on top of the octagonal tower of the old hospital building but was destroyed during the Second World War – with a plaster replica, but ended up building the replacement out of plastic.

City & Country did not confirm or deny these claims about the dome.

Bristol City Council refused planning application for the replacement of a bin store on the site of the hospital’s former mortuary with two residential dwellings and a refuse store, but City & Country have appealed this decision.

In its decision to refuse the planning application, Bristol City Council said: “The building would result in a harmful sense of enclosure, overbearing impact and would unacceptably impair outlook from (the Guinea Street) properties.”

The council’s refusal also said that the plans would “result in an unsympathetic form of development that would result in less than substantial harm to identified heritage assets”.

Although planning permission has been refused, it appears that building work has already started behind Guinea Street – photo by Martin Booth

In her original objection to the planning application, Karen Drake from number 10 said that she had not received a written advice of this application, nor had the developer ever directly contacted her and nor had she seen a public street notice.

She also noted that the three Grade II  and Grade II* listed buildings that would be directly affected by the development did not appear on developers’ drawings.

She said that City & Country “appears greedy in its ambition to squeeze profit from this scheme at the expense of green space, good waste management, proper road safety management and adequate bicycle and sustainable transport provision” with the new building being “to the detriment of the conservation area, wildlife and the immediate neighbours”.

…………………………….

Read more: A House Through Time to focus on Bristol’s slavery past

…………………………….

Peter Madden, who lives in one of the other listed houses on Guinea Street, said: “The General Hospital scheme didn’t provide a single affordable home or one penny of Section 106 money to the council.

“They’ve already made a handsome profit, and now want to squeeze in even more buildings right up against the back of these important listed houses.

“This company claim to be about ‘heritage’, but they’re showing about as much care for these historic Bristol houses as they have for the local community or the people who have bought homes from them.”

The proposed southern elevation of the new development, with the rear of the Guinea Street houses behind – image: City & Country

Bristol General Tenants’ Association chairman, Martyn Green, said: “The proposal to cram two more houses into a space which is supposed to be for bin and cycle storage has caused a lot of concern amongst residents. The houses would open straight onto an access road and would be right next to a smelly bin store.

“The proposed houses are also right behind the row of historic houses which includes the House Through Time, and they would block views and light from the back of these houses.

“Even though the council refused permission, City & Country has started building it anyway. Many residents have written in opposition to it, and we expect the planning inspector to reject the plans for the two extra houses.

“The Bristol General Tenants’ Association has been set up to represent the views of residents, and we are discussing these and other issues with the managing agents.”

Prices for flats currently on sale at The General range from £350,000 to £1,065,000 – photo by Martin Booth

Within its 141-page appeal, City & Country said that the two new dwellings would form an “enhanced relationship with surrounding development at the former hospital site and variety in the conservation area”.

Developers also said that “it is the physical attributes of the listed buildings (on Guinea Street) that contributes greatest significance to the character of this part of the conservation area as opposed to their setting”.

In a statement sent by email to Bristol24/7, City & Country said: “We have appealed the decisions issued by Bristol City Council to refuse applications 17/06669/F and 17/06670/LA and in doing so we have followed the due planning process.

“The appeal inspector has received our full representations in respect of the appeals, including our response to the Council’s case.

“When the Council granted permission in 2012 for the redevelopment of the former Bristol General Hospital site, they agreed that the benefits of restoring the important listed buildings outweighed the need to provide any affordable housing.”

There are new-build flats at The General as well as within converted hospital buildings – photo by Martin Booth

Main photo by Martin Booth

Read more: What to expect when A House Through Time comes to Bristol