Plans to demolish South Bristol’s biggest shopping centre and build around 850 flats in its place are set to be approved by local planners next week.
Planning officers at Bristol City Council are recommending councillors give planning permission to flatten the Broadwalk Shopping Centre, multi-storey car park, the snooker hall and the bingo hall and create something the developers are calling ‘Redcatch Quarter’.
The new development would have 850 new homes in tower blocks up to 12 storeys high overlooking Redcatch Park, and a new pedestrian ‘High Street’ through the site that connects the park with Wells Road.
Read next: 'Redcatch Quarter’ developers say they can't afford to build more affordable homes
The plans have been hugely controversial since they were first unveiled more than a year ago, with a big campaign among local residents who say 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, Cllr 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.
But the plans have backing in Knowle too - the area’s two local councillors have warned those opposing the project that if it is turned down, the Broadwalk shopping centre 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, adding 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.
“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.
Read next - ‘Redcatch Quarter’, the story so far:
July 2018 - First plans unveiled for 400 new homes and revamped Broadwalk shopping centre
March 2019 - Councillors give permission to 400 new homes plan
Sep 2019 - Wilko confirms it’s leaving Broadwalk
Dec 2019 - Knowle could become Bristol's next 'hotbed of regeneration' say property experts
July 2021 - What people want for future of 'run-down' Bristol shopping centre
Jan 2022 - Broadwalk to be renamed ‘Redcatch Quarter’, announce developers
Jan 2022 - New plans to demolish Broadwalk entirely and build 800 flats unveiled
May 2022 - South Bristol MP warns of shortage of schools and GPs with 12,000 new home
June 2022 - Developers tweak plans for ‘Redcatch Quarter’ after consultation
July 2022 - The battle for the soul of Knowle is just getting started
Sep 2022 - Only a small fraction of 850 new homes in South Bristol will be 'affordable'
Sep 2022 - 'Fearful' traders join fight against new 'Redcatch Quarter'
Jan 2023 - Broadwalk or Redcatch Quarter - huge plans divide the Knowle community
Feb 2023 - B&M to close as D-Day for Broadwalk Shopping Centre is postponed again
March 2023 - Council chief tells 'Redcatch Quarter' developers 7 per cent affordable homes 'isn't good enough'
April 2023 - Iceland 'object' to South Bristol shopping centre plans 'in strongest possible terms'
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