Hundreds of student homes could be built on a disused part of a retail park on the outskirts of North Bristol. An empty plot of land at Filton Retail Park, which was formerly B&Q garden centre before its closure years ago, could be built on along with part of the car park.
Canada Life Asset Management has announced the new development in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), as the site is close to UWE’s Frenchay campus. Its proposal is for a building ranging in height from five storeys in the east to nine storeys in the south-west corner, arranged around a central courtyard.
It would accommodate 329 student bedrooms as well as communal spaces. A landscaped courtyard will "act as the social heart of the scheme", according to the developer, and provide outdoor recreational space with habitats for wildlife to "help to achieve Biodiversity Net Gain".
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The retail park is already home to shops including The Range, Lidl, Poundstretcher and DW Fitness. B&Q ceased trading there in 2016, and its former plot is now vacant together with surplus car parking serving the other retail park businesses.
James Ogborne, who is part of the project at Canada Life Asset Management, said: “Filton Retail Park is an ideal and sustainable location for UWE students. As well as being just a short walk from the Frenchay Campus, it will provide a route onto the shared pedestrian/cycle route and is well served by public transport, with bus stops and train stations close by.”
William Liew, UWE Chief Financial Officer, said: “UWE aims to provide accommodation to all new students who request it. In order to achieve this aim we need to deliver in excess of 3,000 bed spaces to help fulfil our current shortfall. These additional beds are being commissioned in four phases and Filton Retail Park is a key part of this."
Developers say the site "will be highly sustainable" and "aspire to be net zero carbon in operation". More information can be found on the project website, which refers to it as 'The Den Stoke Gifford'.
Following feedback from neighbours and stakeholders, the scheme will be prepared for planning and a planning application will be submitted to South Gloucestershire Council. A timeline on the website states: "A full planning application is expected to be submitted at the end of March 2023.
"Once the application has been registered the council will carry out further statutory consultation and notify adjacent neighbours and other key stakeholders. This will provide a further opportunity to comment on the proposals."
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