New office blocks to surround historic church

Plans for three new office blocks at the edge of Castle Park have been approved, despite concerns the “massive” buildings will overshadow the park and overwhelm the Old City.

Councillors narrowly voted in favour of MECP’s proposals for the St Mary le Port site, which currently contains a cluster of three eyesore buildings surrounding a ruined church tower.

One member of the committee even compared the plans for Castle Park to New York’s Central Park.

The three former bank buildings at the corner of Wine Street and High Street will be replaced with one nine-storey and two eight-storey office blocks, with independent retailers, cafes, restaurants and bars at ground level.

The developer will also expand the park, restore the ruined St Mary le Port church tower, and reinstate three historic city centre streets that were lost during the Blitz.

It will also put money towards public toilets and improved cycle lanes through the park.

The St Mary le Port corner of Castle Park is currently unloved – photo: Martin Booth

Looking down what will again become Mary le Port Street towards St Nick’s Market – image: MEPC

Members of campaign group Friends of Castle Park, which has been fighting off “outlandish” plans to redevelop the site for 15 years, told a planning committee they thought MECP’s proposals would both “protect” and “enhance” the park.

But Simon Hickman from Historic England, which objected to the application, said the buildings were “just too big” for the location and would “overwhelm” the Old City unless two of the new office blocks were two floors shorter.

Committee members also heard concerns about the number of trees that would be lost, with plans to remove 14 of 28 mature trees on the site.

Plans are to restore the tower of the historic St Mary le Port church – image: MEPC

Roz Bird, MEPC’s commercial director, said: “Our scheme will provide valuable employment space in a key location, supporting a strong mixed-use heart of Bristol.”

The planning officer who recommended the scheme for approval said it would bring economic benefits for the city as a whole, and “on balance” this outweighed the downsides.

He admitted the tall buildings would overshadow Castle Park, but said the developer had assured the council their size was necessary from a financial viability point of view.

The council’s senior planning officer, Gary Collins, assured committee members there was still an appetite for high-quality office space in the city centre, despite a switch to home-working during the pandemic.

The area around St Mary le Port is set to be transformed under the new scheme – photo: Martin Booth

Speaking after the planning meeting, Bird said: “After two years of detailed consultation with local stakeholders in the community, we are delighted that the Development Control Committee voted this afternoon in favour of our application to rejuvenate the St Mary le Port site.

“On behalf of MEPC, I would like to say a huge thank you to Bristol for welcoming us with open arms and for working with us to develop plans that will create a new special and unique district for Bristol – that will bring new independent shops catering for all budgets, attract new visitors interested in the ruins of St Mary le Port Church, and deliver a new attractive office location commensurate with Bristol’s ambitions and climate targets.”

Main image: MEPC

Read more: Development of Castle Park ‘should not be to the detriment of historic features’

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