News / bedminster
Scaled-back St Catherine’s Place plans recommended for approval
The developers behind major regeneration plans for St Catherine’s Place say they have taken an “East Street first” approach to their latest proposals.
Recommended for approval by Bristol City Council officers, the latest, scaled-back vision from Firmstone would deliver 180 homes in blocks of up to 14-storeys high, as well as more public open space, a ‘pocket park’, children’s play area and a new walking and cycling route from Dalby Road to Mill Lane.
The development does not include any affordable homes, despite the requirement for 30 per cent in the area, with planning documents stating the development is “not viable” with affordable housing provision.
is needed now More than ever
Firmstone announced in September last year it was going back to the drawing board on plans for St Catherine’s Place after its £50m scheme was refused in January – a decision that was recently upheld at appeal.
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Read more: Residents’ views sought on revised plans for St Catherine’s Place
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The renewed proposals have received 52 objections, with key reasons being the lack of affordable and family housing, the proposed scale and impact on the conservation area. 40 people have lodged support for the scheme, citing the need for more housing and regeneration of the area, among the reasons.
The developer promises to breathe new life into retail spaces and increase footfall, with plans to replace existing shops on the East Street side with new, modern stores. The historic façade of the old shopping centre will be refurbished or rebuilt.
Firmstone has included more green space but no affordable housing as part of its latest plans – image provided by Firmstone/Spirit PR
The company’s director Francis Firmstone said: “St Catherine’s Place is an important gateway to the wider Bedminster Green area, which has long been earmarked for regeneration and development and is desperately in need of new homes and investment, particularly now we are facing such challenging economic times.
“Our proposals for 180 much-needed and carefully-designed new homes, along with newly refurbished retail units and a new shopping centre entrance, will give East Street a much-needed boost, making it a thriving area for shopping, leisure and hospitality once again, as we have seen on nearby North Street.”
The developers say they have taken an “East Street first” approach to their latest proposals – image provided by Firmstone/Spirit PR
Firmstone is proposing to pay almost £1.25million towards improving amenities in the community, partly via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and to cover some of the transport improvements required in the area.
Designed by architects Stride Treglown, the new proposals include one, two, and three-bedroom homes in three new buildings on the site, which would be six, seven or 14 storeys high respectively – at least three storeys lower than the previously proposed building.
Outline planning permission is also being sought to potentially convert the redundant vacant retail units in the centre of the site for alternative uses, which might include more residential in the longer term if “retail demand continues to decline”.
The latest planning application will be debated by councillors on Thursday.
Main image provided by Firmstone/Spirit PR
Read more: £50m redevelopment of St Catherine’s Place rejected
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