Bristol City Council’s planning committee has approved a 221-home build-to-rent scheme despite its planning officer’s recommendation for refusal, arguing that the city desperately needs more affordable housing.
Donard Affordable Homes’ plans to redevelop an industrial site in Bristol into a BTR scheme in which 30% of homes will be affordable private rent and 70% at a discount to market rent were approved at a planning meeting today.
The proposed development is located on a brownfield site on the corner of York Road and St Luke’s Road. It was once occupied by spices distributor Bart Ingredients. In its place the company wants to build two six- and 10-storey buildings including homes and 7,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Despite the planning officer’s recommendation for refusal, the development was approved by councillors who argued that the city was in dire need of more affordable housing.
Committee chair Richard Eddy said he was “bitterly disappointed” that what he considered “a well-designed scheme is almost being opposed at the last moment by officers”. He said that to achieve the level of affordable housing proposed is “almost a miracle”, adding: “And it’s not even coming from a housing association, it is coming from a private developer. To me, that speaks something and I think it needs to be seriously considered.”
Councillor Philippa Hulme said: “We desperately need homes; my e-mail is full of people desperate for housing and I think we cannot just ignore that. There are disadvantages but I think weighing them up I will be voting for the development.”
Councillor Tom Hathway added: “Given the urgency of dealing with the housing crisis I am going to be voting in favour of it, but I would issue a challenge to developers to do better. There are so many aspects of this scheme that could be improved. I hope there is still time to make improvements.”
Councillors also acknowledged concerns from the Health and Safety Executive over fire safety in the scheme, including whether or not nearby fire hydrants were in working order and the layout of staircases across the blocks.
The development attracted more than 300 resident objections with a separate petition gathering more than 4,000 signatures. Residents had concerns about the scale and design of the development, with one claiming that the development “looks like a concrete canyon and would be soulless and an eyesore”.
Since an initial application, the developer reduced the number of homes planned from 244 to 221 and lowered one of the blocks by a storey in response to the local outcry.
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