South Bristol shopping centre demolition and 850 new home development set to be approved
Plans to demolish a shopping centre in South Bristol to make way for 850 flats have been tipped for approval.
Planning officers at Bristol City Council are recommending councillors give planning permission to flatten Broadwalk Shopping Centre on Wells Road.
The multi-storey car park, the snooker hall and the bingo hall will be cleared to create something called ‘Redcatch Quarter’.
The new development would have 850 new homes in tower blocks up to 12 storeys high overlooking Redcatch Park.
There would be a new pedestrian "High Street" through the site that connects the park with Wells Road.
The plans have been hugely controversial since they were first unveiled more than a year ago.
A big campaign among local residents says that while the 50-year-old shopping centre needs refurbishment or rebuilding, 850 new homes are too much for the Knowle area.
Council chiefs have also expressed their concern.
The Labour authority’s cabinet member for housing, Councillor Tom Renhard, warned the developers he could not support the plans because just seven per cent of the homes will be classed as ‘affordable’ - which is far fewer than is required by council’s policy.
The plans do have backing in Knowle though.
The area’s two local councillors have warned those opposing the project that if it is turned down, Broadwalk will continue to decline and could eventually close, and planning officers reporting to councillors ahead of next week’s meeting agree.
The final decision will be taken by councillors on next Wednesday’s (May 31) planning committee, but they have now been told by council officers in a 50-page report that, on balance, it should be given the go-ahead.
“Having considered all the information submitted in support of this application for outline planning permission, your officers are satisfied that in principle this is an acceptable location for the mix of uses set out in the description of development,” said the council officers’ report.
They added that the details of what exactly will be built there can be firmed up later in a fresh planning application.
“It will enable the Applicants (or their successors) to move forward with refining their detailed proposals for the site for submission as either one or multiple reserved matters applications.
"At that stage detailed consideration can be given to the design of the proposal and the impact of the design on neighbouring properties.
"At this stage, outline planning permission is recommended. The proposed development affords an opportunity to secure the regeneration of this important brownfield site in the south of Bristol, consistent with Development Management policy.
“It will enable the Applicants (or their successors) to move forward with refining their detailed proposals for the site for submission as either one or multiple reserved matters applications.
“The proposed development would contribute to the delivery of market and affordable homes on previously developed land.
"The proposed development would provide leisure and retail space within a Local Centre. There are no material considerations that could be supported as grounds for refusing this outline application,” they added.