The Society’s final response to 20/01655/F – Old Rail Depot, Clanage Road
The Society was generally supportive of the revised planning application submitted in March 2021. Although we supported the development in principle we considered that the quality of the layout and building design needs to be much improved. The current design would create a depressing environment for future residents.
The latest revised plans show a reduction in height of Block D (now 5 storeys) and the division of Block E into two buildings of between 3 and 5 storeys. We welcomed the reduction in height and footprint of the northern buildings and no longer object to the height of the proposed scheme.
However, the replacement of town houses by blocks, and the completely rectilinear arrangement would seem to give an austere feel to the space. The grid iron layout appears alien in this location. This is a key gateway location which is semi rural in character and transitional between the City and the countryside. The Society continued to consider that the current design of the blocks to be bland and inappropriate in such a location.
The planning application was subsequently APPROVED by Bristol City Council.
Previous reviews: December 2020 and April 2020.
Bristol Civic Society full response.
Simon Birch
