Scaled-down plans for a student accommodation complex in St Philips, featuring buildings between three and nine storeys, have been unanimously approved. The development management committee of the city council gave the green light to the project after rejecting a larger proposal for the site at Premier Business Park, opposite The Dings, in June last year.
The revised plan will provide housing for 549 University of Bristol students, along with commercial space and a community hub. It also promises improved pedestrian and cycle links and additional green space.
The previous proposal by developers Dominus was for 705 students but faced opposition due to concerns about students living on an industrial estate and loss of employment land. Local businesses were against the project, dubbed New Henry Yard, located in Sussex Street.
Bristol City Council received hundreds of objections from around the globe as the project would have forced the world-renowned Invisible Circus to relocate.
However, the original plans had garnered support from the local community as they included a supermarket. This feature has now been removed following concerns raised by officers about road safety and potential trade losses for shopkeepers in Old Market.
The Old Market Community Association told the committee on Wednesday, April 30: "We fail to understand the reasons why the planning officers have instructed the applicant to omit the supermarket from this application when this is so important to the local community, who for years have endured a lack of anywhere local to buy basic provisions, and in an area of the city that is undergoing dramatic change and increase in population.
"We cannot see any reason why the supermarket should not be reinstated.
"It would meet local needs and would not be harmful to the viability and diversity of any nearby centres."
During the meeting, a planner emphasised they had not directed Dominus to cut the store from their revised plans, but pointed out it was incorrectly placed. It was noted that the Temple Quarter's newly opened Sainsbury's Local was a short walk away.
The updated project received nine objections versus five letters backing it, including one from the University of Bristol—a contrast to last year's 558 objections, which included critical remarks from the council's departments for urban design, transport, sustainability, economic development, and Active Travel England, against a mere 16 supporters.
A planning official disclosed at the meeting that after extensive talks with the municipal authorities, all outstanding issues were resolved and no consultees objected to the planned development.
Cllr Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) addressed the committee, saying: "Sometimes planning in the city works well, sometimes it doesn't.
"This seems a shining example of the first category."
"After the previous refusal, the applicants have worked positively with planning and transport and we've resolved every single matter, improved this scheme and eliminated the height which could have impacted upon the residential amenity of the neighbours.
"We're providing a community hub, employment spaces and vitally needed student accommodation."
He concluded: "This seems a win-win."
Cllr Guy Poultney (Green, Cotham) expressed his approval of the improvements and the developers' engagement with the community and ward councillors. He mentioned that Dominus would contribute £157,000 for public art as part of the consent conditions but emphasised the importance of continued dialogue with locals to ensure the art reflects the area's heritage.
