AILL 2009
http://www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk/
eBULLETIN No 59 OCTOBER 2010
CONTENTS MAJOR SITES ....................................................................................... 2
HARBOURSIDE BUILDING 4 .............................................. 2 MACARTHUR’S WAREHOUSE ........................................... 2 WAPPING WHARF Site A3.................................................. 2 GENERAL HOSPITAL ......................................................... 2 BCFC/SAINSBURYS & TOWN GREEN .............................. 2 SAINSBURY APPLICATION ................................................ 2 PLANNING POLICY ............................................................................... 3
DOCKS CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL................... 3 BRISTOL CORE STRATEGY EXAMINATION..................... 3 CENTRAL AREA ACTION PLAN ........................................ 3 SITE ALLOCATIONS & DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT. 3 AREA GREEN SPACE PLAN .............................................. 3
A BRIEF BULLETIN THIS MONTH However, the Society has been working hard behind the scenes on a number of important issues: It has been a busy period for Planning Policy. Debates on policy do not attract the sort of passion or media attention that more immediate and visual issues such as stadiums and supermarkets do, however, the major policy statements currently being formulated will vitally affect the City’s development for decades to come.
TRANSPORT ......................................................................................... 3
BRT2 – ASHTON TO CITY................................................... 3 JOINT TRANSPORT PLAN 2011-2026 ............................... 3 BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION ....................................... 3 TOWNSCAPE, SPACES & AMENITIES ................................................ 4
ASHTON COURT CYCLE-route .......................................... 4 PUBLIC SPACES GROUP ................................................... 4 AWARDS FOR HOUSING DESIGN ..................................... 4 BLOOMING BRISTOL. ......................................................... 4
The Inspector has finished reviewing the City’s Core Strategy. First round of ‘scoping’ consultation on the Docks Conservation appraisal has just closed. The end of the month sees deadline for consultation on Site Allocations & Development Management, and the Central Area Action Plan.
SUSTAINABILITY .................................................................................. 4
APPROVAL GIVEN TO GREEN ENERGY PLANT ............. 4 EVENTS, MEETINGS, ............................................................................ 5
Planning Applications Group continues to sieve through the never-ending stream of applications. A number of major sites in the central area are at a critical stage: the Society has had its eyes ‘firmly on the ball’.
Bristol Civic Society
eBULLETIN No 59 OCTOBER 2010
MAJOR SITES Note: BCC planning applications can be viewed at the BCC website. quoting the Application reference number. http://tinyurl.com/6gejqu Tiny URL for Planning Applications :
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BCFC/SAINSBURYS & TOWN GREEN Bombshell of the month! The site for the Stadium turns out to be an established Town Green! It’s a difficult one for BCC. Technically they can reject the Inspector’s conclusion, but only if they have sufficient evidence. th
HARBOURSIDE BUILDING 4 (See eBulletin 58). the Developer has submitted a revised application. See application 10/00979/M. Of particular interest are the new south and west Elevations facing the harbour, drawings 667305 and 667254 respectively, which show improved additional detailing, but no fundamental changes. For the planting on the Millennium Walk they propose “species rich amenity grasslands on south facing slopes “. Cor ! Sounds as if we get a Safari park thrown in! MACARTHUR’S WAREHOUSE (See eBulletin 58) It is understood the developer may be submitting revised plans following informal discussions with ‘interested parties’. Application 10/01214/R WAPPING WHARF SITE A3 Developer is Umberslade. See application for Museum of Bristol which is part of site. http://tinyurl.com/39gy8r9 GENERAL HOSPITAL (See eBulletin 57) The site is no longer required after 2012 when the Hospital moves into its new home at Hengrove. Its owners, the Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, want to dispose of it, but realise it is unlikely to be acquired by one single new owner. Consultants Barton Willmore were appointed by the Trust to prepare a Development Brief, which has now been published. http://tinyurl.com/2emlouo
BCFC has now been given a new deadline – until 9 November- to submit new evidence. Six city MPs have given support. See recent BEP article http://tinyurl.com/3xgmo2m Read the Inspector’s report – if you really want to – by selecting these links: Pt 1 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-34994086 Pt 2 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-35001164 Pt 3 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-34997214 Pt 4 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-34994093 Pt 5 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-34960191 Pt 6 http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=FileStorageItem-id-35022042 BCC granted approval in February. North Somerset resolved issues of access in May. See history, planning application 09/02242/P SAINSBURY APPLICATION Application 10/00812/P. Sainsbury’s have now released revised proposals in order to overcome the objections to their previous application. However the changes seem to be peripheral and do not fundamentally resolve the basic issues. See BEP story http://tinyurl.com/2cq2mmj Footnote : Sainsbury is now also planning a store in Straits Parade, Fishponds.
Bristol Civic Society
eBULLETIN No 59 OCTOBER 2010
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PLANNING POLICY DOCKS CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Start Date: 8 Sep 2010 - End Date: 8 Oct 2010 Results expected: 8 November 2010
BRISTOL CORE STRATEGY EXAMINATION The Inspector has completed the public review, and is likely to report in February 2011.A main part of the hearing has been discussion of numbers, with BCC criticised for inadequate provision of land supply for future needs, and over-optimistic expectations of what is available. A target of 30,000 new home-builds is considered “aspirational” and 26,400 more realistic. An unprecedented demand for land around Avonmouth due to success of the port, may have to be partially met by Severnside/South Glouc. CENTRAL AREA ACTION PLAN See the Society’s final response in the form of some proposals http://tinyurl.com/2wxj6rj SITE ALLOCATIONS & DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT http://tinyurl.com/3ay3y4o The Major Sites group has almost completed its response on the Development Management policies, which will determine many planning issues in years to come. It has been a Herculean task. Our draft response can be viewed on the Website http://www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk/en/publications?func=select&id=17 There is still a need for someone who can respond with some informed background to the waste and pollution policies? Contact John Frenkel Major Sites Group resolved not to comment on the Site Allocations part of the consultation. Responses to those chapters will, hopefully, come from community groups.
AREA GREEN SPACE PLAN The proposals have sparked off something of a furore. (See eBulletin 58) http://tinyurl.com/32bnnqm The new Public Spaces Group (PSG) will comment on proposals for Castle Park and ‘the Bear Pit’ in central Bristol.
TRANSPORT BRT2 – ASHTON TO CITY The fate of this project remain in the balance, Latest indications are that it will not be decided until Jan 2011. Plans for light-rail scheme to be reconsidered? JOINT TRANSPORT PLAN 2011-2026 The society has submitted its response on this consultation. http://tinyurl.com/34e3mqy BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION GETS ALL-CLEAR Another bombshell, but not unexpected. The new Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has decided NOT to call in the Airport expansion plan, even though it intrudes on Green Belt land. This would seem to be inconsistent with one of his first decisions - to abolish the RSS and the unpopular and undemocratic erosion of the Green Belt, and the new government’s concerns a\bout emissions and policy on Heathrow. Another fine Pickle ?
Bristol Civic Society
eBULLETIN No 59 OCTOBER 2010
TOWNSCAPE, SPACES & AMENITIES ASHTON COURT CYCLE-ROUTE Not a storm exactly, but at least a rustling in the trees with mixed opinions on proposed cycle route. A path has recently been built from Create Centre to Ashton Court via Clanage Road, as part of the Connect2 national network Fears that this may have appropriated part of BRT2 route..
NEW PATH FROM CREATE CENTRE
From Clanage Road there are several options: Blue route; follows the pavement along the road, past the secondary school .most direct, but unattractive ? Red route using instead Courtlands Lane and Parklands Rd , using an old footpath across school playing fields. Objections from school on security. There are concerns about the legal status of this PROW which cannot be resolved in time. Green route uses Kennel Lodge Road, past UWE, then across parkland in front of the mansion. Most attractive route for cyclists. Some fears about safety, as unlit at night, and intrusion onto parkland.
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PUBLIC SPACES GROUP PSG has responded on the ‘tables and chairs’ licensing consultation. We oppose a formal licensing system as unnecessary. A PSG member has attended a council consultation group meeting which is developing a Pedestrian Strategy AWARDS FOR HOUSING DESIGN Bristol is leading the way in housing design, according to the findings of an annual housing design awards scheme. Nine new schemes in Bristol have qualified for a Building for Life standard this year out of a total of 54 nationally, more than any other city outside London. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-35011215
BLOOMING BRISTOL. Yet another award. http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-35003324
SUSTAINABILITY APPROVAL GIVEN TO GREEN ENERGY PLANT Approval given to energy-from-waste plant, next to the mechanical biological treatment plant currently being built. The facility, which will be developed on the former Britannia Zinc site off Kings Weston Lane, Lawrence Weston, will be able to receive up to 100,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste from the adjacent MBT plant every year which it will then turn into electricity by heating it to a very high temperature to produce gas fuel. http://tinyurl.com/266vc6a
Bristol Civic Society
eBULLETIN No 59 OCTOBER 2010
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EVENTS, MEETINGS, Some events may levy a small charge for non-members th
Marketing group
20 October 7.30 Chez Alan Morris
The Civic Society's Working Groups evening
October 21 7.30-9.00
st
Promotion, communications of Society. people with ideas welcome
The evening is open for all members to hear about what each of the working groups have been up to.
Friends Meeting House Hampton Road th
A Harbour runs through it Guided Walk
October 24 (10:00 - 12:30) Cumberland Basin
A morning walk from Cumberland basin to the city centre and beyond, following the water, looking at architecture and history. Led by Jeff Lucas, the Society's events organiser (who professes enthusiasm but no specialist knowledge). About 2.5 hours. PLEASE BOOK WITH JEFF LUCAS IN ADVANCE AS WE HAVE TO LIMIT NUMBERS. jalucas@blueyonder.co.uk
“Quick-half” meeting
First Monday of each month, st starting on 1 November.
BCS social ‘drop-in’ nights. Informal social event, nothing technical, but may be a little bit philosophical ! ?
8pm The Cottage, Baltic Wharf
All welcome
Climate change in the suburbs
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Nov 25 . Friends Meeting House Hampton Road
Talk by Professor Katie Williams, Joint Director of .the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environment at UWE, and leader of the Suburban Neighbourhood Adaptation for Climate Change project.
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This eBulletin is published by Bristol Civic Society. It is intended to be a topical review of the issues that affect the city’s built environment We hope you enjoyed reading this eBulletin. However, if you'd rather not receive future e-mails of this sort from Bristol Civic Society please contact us on unsubscribe@bristolcivicsociety.org.uk Comments, criticisms, hot news please let us know at http://www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk/contacts Edited and designed by DKC for BCS. Compiled from public domain documents and BCS internal memos. All sources acknowledged.