This is another attempt to gain planning permission on this site for residential/student living. The previous scheme went to appeal and was lost on scale, massing, damage to the local character and loss of employment. The local policy suggests that student living would not be suitable however the appeal decision suggested this use would be acceptable. The application seems to be for HMO living, yet the documents refer to student living or at least students living in a large HMO development.
Unfortunately, the Bristol Civic Society cannot support this application in its current form. There is still a loss of employment on a site. Employment use has been on the site since the turn of the 20th Century. These uses, a timber yard, perambulator depot and undertakers should have a bearing on the new proposals. There is also the Wain Brook and Chapel of Rest which all give the site a history which is not acknowledged within the proposals. The history of the site also shows a certain Victorian terrace urban grain, and this should be captured within any new proposals.
The loss of the chapel is disappointing, especially as no reference in the current building proposal is given. The use of this larger open space would have been ideal for large flats or communal study lounges.
There should be a more active street frontage to any proposal. The proposed layout is very simple and offers no real benefit to the site or community and unfortunately provides many north facing flats which would result in poor day light standards.
We acknowledge the applicant has tried to take account of the inspector’s comments regarding scale and massing; however, the overall impression is now one of a large Victorian workhouse totally at odds with the local Redfield area character. Using the historic burgage plot lines would help in breaking up the elevations and further reducing the scale at the Brook Street corner incorporating a more traditional parapet and roof would help ease its integration into the street scale.
Ian Jenkins
This site is completely inappropriate. Its a residential area for families with historic terraced cottage type housing. It will put huge pressure on local resources for the local community and will interfere with light and is of no benefit to anyone.