Homes will only be built on areas where the animal enclosures currently stand, Bristol councillors have confirmed.
In a joint-statement, Clifton councillors Paula O’’Rourke and Jerome Thomas said the attraction's much-loved garden area will not be developed on.
Bristol Zoological Society announced this afternoon (November 27) the shock closure of its Clifton site.
Chiefs plan to relocate the attraction to its Wild Place Project site in South Gloucestershire to create a 'world-class zoo and safeguard the future of the organisation'.
It's understood once the zoo closes, its entrance building will be turned into a 'cafe and exhibition centre'.
In a joint-statement, Mr Thomas and Mrs O’’Rourke said: "The decision to move the animals to the Wild Place is obviously going to improve animal welfare.
"What happens to the site and what is lost to Clifton is not so positive.
"However, the director has given us assurances that the Society will continue to be responsible for the site and intends, prior to sale, to submit a planning application for residential development.
"It will only build on areas where the animal enclosures currently are, leaving the gardens intact.
"The director assures us that the development will be to the highest conservation and sustainability standards and will meet Bristol’s policy of 40 per cent affordable housing.
"The entrance buildings will be turned into a cafe and exhibition centre and a site will be given to the Avon Gorge and Wildlife Project, for education outreach programmes.
"This is a very sad loss for Clifton and, as local councillors, we will need to be vigilant to ensure that the development of the site is done in a manner beneficial to our community."
Today's news follows years of declining visitor numbers to Bristol Zoo Gardens and the organisation having made an operating loss in four of the last six years.
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The plans have been announced after the second lockdown forced Bristol Zoo Gardens and Wild Place Project to close, following months of closure during the peak spring and summer months.
