Developers wanting to build hundreds of flats on a prominent site at the entrance to Bristol city centre say they have scaled back their plans.
Developers Dandara have now submitted a planning application for the site of the now boarded-up Robins & Day Peugeot garage on the corner of the Bath Road Bridge roundabout, opposite Temple Meads, and want to build a total of 432 new homes - all of which will be ‘build to rent’ and not available for anyone to buy themselves.
Back in May last year, Bristol Live revealed Dandara wanted to build several blocks of flats on the large site, with the tallest building a 20-storey block of flats. The developers now say they have listened to people who submitted their views in a pre-application consultation programme, and they have reduced the height of the tallest building by five-storeys down to 15-storeys high.
Read next: Plans for hundreds of flats blocking famous Bristol view approved
Other changes to the original developers’ plans include a new ‘pocket park’ in the centre of the scheme, less car parking spaces, and a ‘flexible community space’ for the people living there.
Bristol Live first revealed that Robins & Day was closing back in March 2021, and news that the site had been bought by Dandara followed in December 2021.
The developers, who also are a key part of the Bedminster Green regeneration on the other side of the river in South Bristol, spent much of 2022 asking for views on their initial proposals, which Bristol Live first revealed in May 2022, and talking to planning officers, and have now finally submitted a planning application, which should be decided on at some point during 2023 by city council planners.
One of the sites on the opposite bank of the River Avon, the former Barts Spices site on York Road, received planning permission for blocks of flats last year, and Dandara are hopeful their plan will also get approval.
The site forms a key part of the Temple Quarter regeneration scheme, although it is one of the few sites that is privately owned and being privately developed away from the council-led project.
If planning permission is granted, the developer said they want to start construction during 2024 with the aim of the development being completed and opened in 2027.
A spokesperson for Dandara said: “Lots of local residents shared their feedback with us – which helped us reshape our draft proposals, reducing the maximum height by five storeys, but also bringing more planting into the heart of the scheme, to create an attractive place where new and existing residents feel safe and welcome.
“The existing building line on Temple Gate and Clarence Road would be pulled back, to allow space for improvements to the public realm including widened pavements - 3.5 metres wide on Temple Gate – with space for street tree planting and a segregated cycle lane.
“Currently the Whitchurch Way cycling route - which passes next to the site - has a missing section, which the proposal would resolve by connecting from the south side of Clarence Road to opposite Temple Meads on the west side of Temple Gate.
“Our proposal would create a highly sustainable development, targeting two of the highest sustainability standards - BREEAM Communities Excellent and 4 Star Home Quality Mark. Our approach seeks to minimise carbon, using recycled materials, connecting to the Bristol heat network, and harnessing renewable energy with rooftop solar panels.
“We feel our scheme would create a carefully-considered and highly-sustainable mixed-use community in the heart of the city, bringing much-needed homes, green spaces, improved cycle and pedestrian connections, and community facilities to this important brownfield, gateway site,” he added.
Read more about Temple Quarter:
Massive Silverthorne Lane development of homes and school given green light
Govt finally gives missing £95m to kickstart Temple Quarter regeneration
Chinese food wholesaler behind Temple Meads could become hundreds of student flats
Temple Island revamp deal finalised for 550 homes, hotel and offices
Deliveroo opens its first Bristol delivery store in partnership with Morrisons
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