South Bristol residents are objecting to plans for a huge new youth club due to the loss of green open space popular with dog walkers. The new Youth Zone is due to open in 2025 and is set to get planning permission next week.
The giant youth club would be built on the grassland south of the Inns Court housing estate, near the roundabout connecting Hengrove Way and Hartcliffe Way. But locals said the area is well used by children playing and a habitat for wildlife.
Bristol City Council’s development control B committee is due to vote on granting planning permission for the development on Wednesday, May 10. But writing to the council, many residents suggested the location of the Youth Zone should be looked at again.
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One resident said: “Firstly, the land offers excellent natural green space which is constantly decreasing into today's climate. Local wildlife are losing their environment at an alarming rate. Secondly, the area offers an excellent dog walking and communal area for local residents. I speak with many fellow dog walkers daily who enjoy the safety and size of the green space.”
Another resident added: “The green space is an excellent safe area in which my two children enjoy playing, exercising and looking at the local wildlife such as foxes, hedgehogs, birds and occasionally, deer. This is very healthy for them both physically and mentally.
“Outdoor green spaces such as those fields are few and far between in these times. Especially with trees being cut down at the back of my home. It's helpful that the fields are so close to my house for my children as we regularly enjoy our times there as a family and also with others such as the local dog walkers, of which there are many.”
The plans include a two-storey building, disabled and minibus parking, an access road, a five-a-side pitch, and a single-story storage building. The youth centre will run a wide range of activities such as football, boxing, climbing, creative arts, music, drama and employability training.
The development will be led by national youth charity OnSide, and the council will pay £7,275,000 towards the plans. The youth centre will be run by local charity Youth Moves. The Youth Zone will cost £5 for an annual membership and 50p per visit, with fees waived for young people who can’t afford this. The centre will open more than 40 hours a week.
In planning documents, architects said: “The site is bounded by Hartcliffe Way to the south-west, Hargrove Way to the south-east and the Inns Court housing estate to the north as indicated by the red line boundary on the adjacent plan. The site is currently an under utilised open space between the Inns Court estate and the surrounding arterial road network.
“OnSide Youth Zones provide opportunities and challenges that inspire young people to lead healthier and more positive lives, raising their aspirations so they grow up to become happy, caring and responsible citizens, with more to offer themselves, their families, the community and employers.
“Youth Zones are built in prominent positions in the heart of town and city centres. They are landmark buildings which make strong visual statements and are finished to a high internal specification, with the best equipment, and a clear focus on the high quality of the environment and facilities.”
The site is also allocated for new housing. This means that if the development control committee decides to grant their approval, the application would then be sent to the government to have the final say.
