The Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton has been brought to the market and has been earmarked for residential development.
Property adviser Savills will be handling the sale of the 11.4 acre site that was home to Bristol Zoo for 186 years before its closure in 2022, when its owners Bristol Zoological Society decided to focus on its 136 acre Bristol Zoo Project site on the outskirts of the city.
The sale of the site is the second phase of the Society's disposal strategy, having completed the sale of its former West Car Park in May 2023 to the Hill Group. In November 2022, plans to build 62 new homes were put forward for recommendation. The Hill Group will now build the 62 homes, 20% of which will be affordable housing.
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The money from the car park sale went towards the the first phase of construction of a new conservation zoo at Wild Place Project, now called Bristol Zoo Project. Bristol Zoological Society said they would use the funds to create new visitor facilities, new play areas, new animal homes with new species, and a conservation campus for students, scientists, and the breeding of highly threatened animals.
Savills is now marketing the Bristol Zoo Gardens site for sale, having successfully secured a Resolution to Grant Planning Permission for a residential scheme, in line with the Society's conservation values.
The proposed scheme aims to be a "highly sustainable, low carbon development". It will include 196 new homes, 20% of which will be affordable, set within mature landscaped gardens and alongside a conservation hub, which will be retained by the Society. The scheme will also provide free public access to the historic gardens for the first time in the site’s history.
Ben Taylor, head of development for Savills Bristol, said: "Bristol Zoo Gardens is an extraordinary site, with consent to deliver an exceptional scheme that befits its unique heritage and features. It is an incredible one-off opportunity for an outstanding developer to make their mark at this high-profile site within Bristol’s most prestigious residential suburb."
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Dr Justin Morris, chief executive of Bristol Zoological Society, added: “Our plans for the Bristol Zoo Gardens site will not only deliver high quality, sustainable homes for Bristol, but will see the gardens free to access for the first time
“The sale of the site will safeguard the future of our 186-year-old charity and support the creation of a new, world-class conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project. At this inspiring visitor destination on the outskirts of the city, at least 80 percent of species will be linked to our conservation work around the world, living in spaces more closely reflecting their natural habitats. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.”
The proposed housing would include apartment blocks with "playful animal motifs" as well as 27 new homes with "materials selected to draw on animalistic textures, and architectural references taken from the existing Grade II listed Giraffe House."
Five historic buildings within the site will be converted into homes, including the Giraffe House, which forms a single dwelling, and the Clifton Pavilion, which will be subdivided into five town houses.
Much of the gardens will remain as open space, with improvements to the lake, the creation of a new play area, and space for community events in the existing Terrace Theatre building. Savills said listed buildings, such as the Monkey Temple and former Bear Pit will be "sensitively restored".
The Grade II-listed former zoo entrance building will become The Clifton Conservation Hub, a new community and exhibition space, focused on urban conservation.
Savills is inviting informal tender submissions by November 22.