News / redland
Special needs school site to become residential homes
A new partnership will see the site of St Christopher’s School, which closed in March 2020 amid a child cruelty investigation, be fully refurbished and a new development on the site be built.
Grace House School, more commonly known as St Christopher’s, closed just months after the residential part of the school was shut down following serious safeguarding concerns and the police launching an investigation.
The Redland site will now be turned into “extra care” residential homes by FORE Partnership and extra care operator Amicala, along with developer First Base.
is needed now More than ever
The five-acre site, which includes the Grade-II listed Grace House, will see accommodation that allows older people to live relatively independently, with a minimum base line of care which can then be increased as they age.
In Bristol, people aged over 65 account for every one in seven people and there are 9,100 people aged 85 or older. By 2043, Bristol City Council predicts there will be a 40 per cent increase over 75s in the city.
The closure of the school has added to the SEND crisis in Bristol. Photo: Bristol SEND campaigners
The city will be the location for the first of a new generation of “ultra-sustainable” later living developments, which will delivered by FORE Partnership, a real estate investment firm, in a joint venture with extra care operator Amicala.
First Base, which is developing the Gardiner Haskin’s Soapworks site in Old Market, will also develop the St Christopher’s site.
The team will begin the appointment of a design team and engagement with local residents, businesses, and stakeholders will begin shortly. It is not yet known when the site will be finished.
The St Christopher’s site was previously a special needs school, which, between 2016 and 2019, received three damning reports from Ofsted. The school then shut at the end of spring term in 2020 amid a police investigation.
The new extra care community hopes to instead play a positive role in helping people lead healthier lives, reducing NHS pressures, lowering social care costs and helping tackle the loneliness epidemic.
The school will become “extra care” living for older people. Photo: FareShare South West
“St Christopher’s has a rich history in Bristol and we very much look forward to engaging with local residents, businesses, Bristol City Council and key stakeholders over the coming months as we start to formulate the future plans,” says Lucinda Mitchel, director of First Base.
“At the heart of the proposals will be a strong focus on high quality design, environmental sustainability, repurposing heritage buildings and delivering positive social impact to the local community.”
Main photo of The Sensory Garden at St Christopher’s School: Michael Murray
Read more: 66 new special school places to be created in Bristol
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