See this Evening Post article for news of how KCG and others have made the University scale down its grandiose plans to something closer to its own Council-adopted Masterplan….
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144913&contentPK=20406083&folderPk=83726
Saved for the time being by the Planning Inspector, who agreed a year ago with Bristol City Council’s refusal of permission to convert into flats. Kingsdown Conservation Group and others opposed the application, and we are delighted that the Inspector agreed. She said’ “… the proposed change of use would be unacceptably harmful to the vitality and viability of the local shopping parade….”
Well, at least no-one’s suggesting a 14-storey block now (as far as we know, anyway).
CLICK on the picture for a bigger version and other old clippings
Your chance to influence the Council. There’s been a planning application to allow the Jester on the Green to be retained. Whether you agree or not, you can influence the Council’s decision by sending an email to
north.planning@bristol.gov.uk and quoting reference 08/00565/F
Thanks to the 20 people who gave us their views on our draft response - it’s really helpful when we deal with the hospital and other authorities to know that we are fairly representing what Kingsdown residents think. All 20 supported our draft, but many also made very useful extra points.
In summary, we all understand the need to develop, but there is a strong feeling that the hospital’s plans would overdevelop the sites, so they should be revised.
If you want to see the revised document that Andy King sent in, it is attached here: UBHT response.
The United Bristol Hospital Trust plans to sell four small Kingsdown sites, all in the conservation area. Naturally UBHT want to get as much money as is reasonably possible, so they intend to seek planning permission for up to 19 houses and flats. They have shown us some of their draft plans, and asked for our comments.
We are pleased to be consulted while there is still a chance to make some changes, but we don’t think the current proposals are appropriate for the area.
We hope to persuade the Trust to amend its plans. First, though, we want to make sure that our comments do accurately reflect the views of our members and other local residents, so please look at the plans which are on on display in Alfred Harris printers.
We only have till Feb 7th to comment, so please call in and let us know what you think.
The Evening Post have asked us not to send this to others until after the holidays (because they plan to run a story) - anyone have ideas about where to send it then? Thanks.
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20th December 2007
For immediate release
Contact: John Frenkel, 0117 924 0853
St Michael’s Hill plans are ‘ugly sister’, says local group.
Kingsdown Conservation Group say the University’s latest proposals would produce an Ugly Sister for the brutalist concrete Maternity hospital. Along with the Civic Society and several other local amenity groups, they are calling for revised plans.
Spokesperson John Frenkel said “The University proposes a building double the size of what was agreed by the City Council. The plans even ignore the University’s own design guidance about buildings which would ‘reinforce the character of the area…. help mend the streetscape …. be a positive response to the historic context.’”
“St Michael’s Hill is one of the delights of Bristol, and we were shocked by these proposals. They would spoil the historic environment with an ugly building that is far too big and completely out of place. We just don’t understand the University. They spent a year working with local residents and produced a Masterplan, which the Council adopted. Why bother to have a Masterplan and then try to ignore it?”
In November, the University publicly displayed the Phase 1 proposals, which directly conflict with the Masterplan in many ways. For example, the St Michael’s Hill building would be much too large and its design is unsympathetic. In place of the Masterplan’s four-storey building that steps down the hill in three blocks, they now propose a large horizontal office block, seven storeys high at one end. It could be any office block anywhere.
The University is trying to cram in far too much. Kingsdown Conservation Group calls for a revised design that sticks to the University’s own Masterplan.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The Bristol City Council Supplementary Planning Document 11 “Univeristy of Bristol Strategic Masterplan” is at
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Planning/planning-policy-documents/new-policy-docs/SPD-11-university-of-bristol-strategic-masterplan.en
2. The Kingsdown Conservation Group’s response to the proposals is here: http://kingsdown.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/KCG response to Uni Phase1.doc
3. The University’s proposals have not yet been submitted as a Planning Application. They were on public display at the Senate House in November.
Bristol University Phase 1 proposals - St Michael’s Hill
The Committee doesn’t think much of this, and has said so in its reponse to the University (see below for details)