Concerns have been raised about how Bristol City Council will ensure a developer honours its pledge to build 40 per cent affordable housing on Temple Island.
During a cabinet meeting on July 2, Bristol City Council’s cabinet agreed for the authority to continue discussions with Legal & General so an agreement regarding the site can be reached.
It also agreed to spend £500,000 to progress development proposals for the site and to agree to enter into a Strategic Partnership with the asset management firm.
L&G unveiled its vision for Temple Island in August last year, which included a conference centre, hotel and housing.
In September Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees confirmed land at Temple Island would not be used for an arena, but instead decided to push forward with plans for a ‘mixed use’ development on the site similar to the L&G plans.
Discussions have been taking place behind the scenes for months in order to bring a proposal forward for a mixed-use development at the site with the council’s “identified partner” L&G.
Designed by Zaha-Hadid Architects (ZHA), the proposals included a state-of-the-art conference centre, a 345-room hotel and 550 new homes - including 220 affordable homes - and two major “Grade A” office buildings on the five acre site.
But during the cabinet meeting concerns were raised about how the council would ensure L&G delivered the 40 pe cent affordable housing it had promised.
In April Bristol City Council was left "deeply frustrated" L&G was granted planning permission by the Planning Inspectorate for 120 apartments in Temple Quay - of which only four had to be affordable.
Members of the planning committee had insisted the project should not go ahead unless 23 of the flats could be rented at affordable rates.
But L&G argued it would make the project "unviable" and the inspector ruled in their favour.
At the cabinet meeting, Conservative councillor Tony Carey, who sat on the planning committee, asked how the council could assure the 40 percent figure for Temple Island was maintained.
Deputy mayor Craig Cheney, who was chairing the meeting in the mayor’s absence, said “in the current world it was difficult to do that”.
He added: “If they appeal viability then they do, but we will work with L&G to find a solution.”
During the meeting Cllr Cheney also fielded questions from the Green group about the legality of the agreement with L&G given there has been no public tendering process.
However Mr Cheney said the agreement with L&G would be classed as a “land and property transaction” and not a public works contract which would need to go through the tendering process.
He said the council had taken “independent legal advice to access the risk”.
He also said all the council was agreeing to at this stage was a “non-binding agreement with L&G" which would allow them to move forward with discussions.
He said more details would be coming to future cabinet meetings and scrutiny would have the chance to view the proposals as well.
