Charity calls for inquiry into major project near Feeder Canal

A charity has called for a public inquiry into major plans to transform an industrial zone overlooking the Feeder Canal in central Bristol.

Proposals for the land around Silverthorne Lane, east of Temple Island, include hundreds of homes, offices, shops, student accommodation and a secondary school.

Developer Feeder Estates - a partnership managed by Square Bay - submitted a planning application for the site to Bristol City Council last August.

However, the Victorian Society - a national charity which campaigns for the Victorian and Edwardian historic environment - is appealing for a public inquiry in a final bid to save the “irreplaceable part of Bristol’s industrial heritage”.

In a statement, the society said: “In September, the Victorian Society announced its strong objection to the proposed demolition of several historic industrial sheds which are representative of Bristol’s industrial growth.

View of the proposed school entrance (Silverthorne Lane)

“The Society called for the imaginative conversion of the industrial buildings over needless demolition.

 “The proposed plans will split the former site of The Acraman’s Bristol Iron Works into six plots between Avon Street and St Philip's Causeway, with the tallest proposed building on the site reaching 21-storeys.

“The Victorian Society states that a different approach is needed that retains more historic fabric, stressing that the sensitive treatment of the historic industrial sheds which stand on the site is vital in order to protect an intrinsic part of Bristol’s heritage.”

A CGI of St Vincent's Shed which will form part of the office space offer (Silverthorne Lane)

The charity said the conversion of Spike Island and the restoration of the M Sheds were examples of disused industrial buildings being creatively transformed into thriving and fashionable hubs which continue to present the site’s history.

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The site was also chosen by the Department for Education to deliver a new 1,600 secondary school and sixth form to address a looming shortage of places in the city.

The school, Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, will be operated by Oasis Community Learning who already operate eight schools across the city.