News and views
Planning green light for UNITE's Freestone Island scheme
Date: 15 April 2024
We are delighted that UNITE Students has been granted planning consent for its 500-bed student accommodation development at Freestone Island in Bristol Temple Quarter.
ABC worked closely with UNITE and their design and planning team to bring this project forward, leading on engagement and consultation with the community and wider stakeholders. Following public consultation and engagement with a range of stakeholders, a range of changes were made to the design including a reduction in massing and the number of student beds, enhancements to the east-west permeable route through the site and increased public realm.
The Freestone Island scheme, in Bristol Temple Quarter, which has total development costs of £73m , is set to open for the 2026/27 academic year. It will be close to Unite’s 600-bed Marsh Mills site, on Feeder Road, and the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, where up to 4,600 students will be based on completion.
The new development will also provide new high quality public realm and 4,500 sq ft of affordable workspace.
Tom Brewerton, group development director at Unite Students, said: "Our Freestone Island project provides Unite Students with the opportunity to grow further in the city by providing high quality, value for money rooms for our students and university partners. We look forward to starting the construction phase as swiftly as possible and delivering the scheme in time for the 2026/27 academic year."
Indicative view of the front facade of UNITE's Freestone Island scheme
© Alec French Architects
New homes for Tatworth after successful appeal
Date: 25 March 2024
Crossman Group has won its appeal for outline planning permission for up to 95 dwellings on land off Perry Street in Tatworth, South Somerset.
The proposed development will include bungalows, aimed directly at older people, affordable homes for younger people trying to get on the property ladder, and also self-build plots.
The housing will be a mix of sizes and tenures with 35% affordable housing comprising affordable rent, shared ownership and starter homes.
The successful appeal follows a long road to planning with early engagement and wider public consultation being facilitated by Avril Baker Consultancy back in August/September 2021.
Avril Baker, Avril Baker Consultancy said: “We are pleased to see this scheme finally get the go ahead. While there were mixed views on new housing in this location, this will help support more people to get onto the housing ladder in South Somerset.
“We consulted the local parish council and local residents on this scheme and publicised the proposals through both local media and social media resulting in over 200 survey responses.
“Following consultation, the proposals were revised in response to feedback from key stakeholders and the local community.”
Matthew Halstead, Director, Crossman Acquisitions aid: “We are delighted our appeal has been approved, it has been a long planning journey but we got there in the end.”
Crossman Group will also make a contribution to education, NHS, youth facilities, travel plan and open spaces in the local area, as part of its section 106 commitments.
Supporting the pensioners Christmas Party at The Park Centre
Date: 18 December 2023
The ABC team donned their Santa hats and festive spirit on 14 December to support the pensioners Christmas Party at The Park Centre in Knowle West.
The annual Christmas party, funded by The Park and local sponsors, has been taking place for over 20 years, continuing a tradition that started when the former Merrywood School was on the site.
A sit-down Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, entertainment including a swing band, Christmas songs sung by Matty Mason, the student choir and The Park Nursery singing carols were rounded off by a gift from Santa.
It is a real team effort with everyone getting involved; students at The Park made Christmas decorations, the café team cooked the lunch, and staff, trustees and volunteers put their waitressing skills to the test.
The Christmas party is the highlight of the year for many local people who attend The Park for a range of different activities throughout the year.
Emma Hinton, Director of The Park said: “We all love the pensioners Christmas party. It is an event that is enjoyed by both the people attending and the staff and volunteers at The Park. It brings people together, is completely free and is a highlight of our calendar. It is a long standing tradition that we will continue to offer every year.
“We are so grateful to Avril Baker Consultancy who gave up their their time and energy to support this event and for contributing towards the costs.”
Final phases of Wapping Wharf in for planning
Date: 11 October 2023
Bristol City Council recently registered the hybrid planning application for the final phases of the regeneration of Wapping Wharf on its website.
The documents which form the application are now available to view and comment on Bristol City Council’s planning portal (application reference 23/02946/P).
ABC has worked with owners Umberslade and their project team through the pre-application period. The proposals have been significantly revised following two years of consultation with Wapping Wharf traders, local residents, stakeholders, advisory bodies and the wider public.
Stuart Hatton, managing director of Umberslade said: “Our ambition is to build on what we’ve created so far but make it even better. We believe we have created something fresh and exciting that will enhance our community here and draw people to the area, with more green public spaces for them to enjoy.
“We have listened very carefully to the feedback from all parties and worked hard to ensure we have responded and made changes where possible, whilst maintaining the overall integrity of the design and our vision for these final phases of Wapping Wharf.”
If approved, the proposals will secure the future of the CARGO independent businesses and provide much-needed sustainable new homes, shops, restaurants, takeaways and workspaces, together with generous landscaped public spaces, and more natural habitat for wildlife to improve biodiversity.
For more information see https://www.wappingwharfnorth.co.uk/
Indicative CGI of CARGO Hall restaurant terraces at night
Consent for new lighting system for Clifton Suspension Bridge
Date: 9 August 2023
Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust has received planning consent for the installation of a new lighting system for the bridge from Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council.
The application for the “Removal of existing lighting system and installation of new illumination scheme to walkways, guardrails, chains, abutments, cornices, saddles, towers and archways” will enable the Grade 1 listed structure to upgrade the lighting as part of a major programme of repairs and maintenance.
The new state-of-the-art lighting will maintain the level of illumination at road level enhancing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and the bridge attendants during hours of darkness, as well as highlighting some of the key architectural features of the Bridge.
The lighting system has been discreetly designed to avoid any damage to the listed structure and minimise any intrusive visual impact or disturbance to local wildlife, especially bats.
Avril Baker Consultancy led on the programme of early engagement with key stakeholders followed by public consultation.
Activities included:
Two workshop sessions, followed by a guided walk along the bridge, with 10 key stakeholders including ward councillors, Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS), The Downs Committee, Friends of the Downs & Avon Gorge Group and Visit West.
Neighbour notification to c.420 local residents
Staffed drop-in style exhibition at the Visitor Centre for neighbouring residents and stakeholders
Display at the Visitor Centre for the remainder of the consultation period
Public consultation page on the Clifton Suspension Bridge website
Online feedback survey (with paper copies also available)
Press release issued to local media and coverage achieved in CHIS newsletter and Bristol Life newsletter
For more information see cliftonbridge.org.uk/lighting-public-consultation/
Indicative image. Image credit: Hoare Lea
Site walkabout on Clifton Suspension Bridge