News / bedminster
Residents’ views sought on revised plans for St Catherine’s Place
Developers behind controversial plans for St Catherine’s Place are seeking residents’ views as they “start afresh” on proposals for the site.
Firmstone’s £50m vision for the shopping centre just off East Street – which incorporated new apartments across five tower blocks, up to 16 storeys high, as well as retail units and a cinema – were rejected by a Bristol City Council planning committee in January.
The Bedminster-based company is appealing the decision, but bosses say they are keen to work with local stakeholders to bring forward a revised proposal that “aims to meet everyone’s aspirations as much as possible”.
is needed now More than ever
Residents can give their views and feedback via an interactive map and survey form on Firmstone’s website, which the company says will feed into revised plans. The developers have appointed a new team to “review every aspect” of the proposals and intend to reveal the latest plans to the public in mid-September, prior to a planning application being submitted.
Firmstone initially planned to redevelop the site with no affordable housing, before reaching a last minute agreement with the council early this year to include 17 per cent affordable, equivalent to 34 of the 205 properties. Council policy for the site requires a minimum of 30 per cent affordable housing.
Reasons given for refusing the plans included concerns about over-development of the site and wider Bedminster Green area and the impact on the existing community, infrastructure and services, as well as traffic and parking.
Speaking about the launch of the new consultation, a spokesperson for Firmstone said: “We were of course very disappointed that our original scheme was refused by Bristol City Council at the beginning of this year. Since then we have taken time to consider how to best achieve the much-needed regeneration of this site.
“While we have submitted an appeal on the original decision, we are very keen to work with local stakeholders to bring forward a revised proposal that aims to meet everyone’s aspirations as much as possible.
“For this reason, we are preparing a new application for the site with significant reductions in building heights and focussing in particular on regenerating the frontage on East Street. We have launched a consultation website for the new scheme, asking residents and businesses about their aspirations for the area, and we are hoping some great new ideas and suggestions will be put forward.”
Original plans included new apartments across five tower blocks, up to 16 storeys, as well as retail units and a cinema – CGI image courtesy of Firmstone
The promise of a cinema, run by Scott Cinemas, was included in the original proposals. However, the cinema operator was unable to make a commercial commitment following the council’s decision in January, and it looks unlikely to be part of the new scheme.
Firmstone bosses say the revised plans “will represent a significant scaling back of the proposals”, but they remain keen to explore other commercial and retail opportunities as part of the residential-led mixed-use regeneration of the site.
People are invited to take part in the initial phase of consultation via www.stcatherines.place. The consultation team can also be contacted via email at hello@stcatherines.place. Residents unable to get online can leave a voice message on 0117 2141606 to arrange alternative means to get involved and have their say.
Main photo courtesy of Firmstone/Sulis Public Affairs
Read more: £50m redevelopment plans for St Catherine’s Place rejected
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