A five-storey block of 50 flats, all of them affordable, that will shape the future of Old Market has been granted permission after planners called it a “no-brainer”.
Bristol city councillors unanimously approved the housing association scheme, which includes two flexible commercial units, on the site of a builder's yard in Midland Road.
Planners were told it would be one of the first developments in the Old Market Quarter Neighbourhood Plan, so would “set the tone and context” of future buildings.
But Old Market Group objected to the application by social housing provider United Communities, calling it “totally unacceptable”.
It said the development was too tall and too dense, a complaint echoed by Bristol Civic Society, and did not comply with the neighbourhood plan.
Nearby Hannah More Primary School said in its consultation response: “While development is welcomed, the lack of car parking is a concern.”
But Katharine Hegarty, associate director of Noma Architects, which designed the building, told development control committee members that the site was on the market without success for two years with a previous planning consent for 20 flats, nine houses and four studio workshops.
She said: “The scheme was simply unviable with no acceptable offers.”
Ms Hegarty said at the meeting on Wednesday, June 19, that her company and the housing association had been working on the new proposals for 18 months, adding: “Stakeholders objected to having a tower block approach, which we listened to.
“The result is four to five storey units with two commercial units and ample community space.
“The building does respond to the neighbourhood plan.
“It has parking, a continuous frontage, outdoor amenity space, commercial units along Midland Road and responds to the scale of other developments nearby.
“It’s a statement building. It’s 100 per cent affordable. It embraces sustainability.
“It’s a high-quality design proposal to benchmark future developments.”
United Communities chief executive Oona Goldsworthy said: “We are really passionate about this scheme.
“It’s incredibly difficult to get 100 per cent affordable schemes in the centre of town.
“Old Market is a fantastic place but it should not be just for those who can afford to live there.
“This is the only site we have been able to secure in many, many years.
“We want to provide good quality, affordable homes in a place people want to live.”
Planning officer Matthew Bunt said: “This area of Midland Road has a number of allocations within the Old Market Neighbourhood Plan.
“If this application is granted, it will be one of the first sites in the area, so it will set the tone and context for future development.”
He said 30 of the one- and two-bedroom flats in the red-brick block would be let at an affordable rent and 20 sold for shared ownership.
Committee member Cllr Margaret Hickman said: “That building just looks like a lump on the landscape.
“It doesn’t look at all attractive.
“The area behind it doesn’t use red brick, it uses lighter materials, so would it blend better into the environment if it was not so dark?
“It was just so stark to me that it looked ugly.”
Cllr Tony Carey said the only bus service at the site did not run early in the morning, late evenings or on Sundays and bank holidays.
He said the council should improve a nearby road junction because the pedestrian crossing was “fraught”.
But Cllr Fabian Breckels said: “One-hundred per cent affordable and within walking distance of the main shopping area of Bristol.
“What’s not to like? This is a no-brainer.”
Cllr Mark Wright said: “The developers said they started with a tower block and the stakeholders didn’t like it so they listened and changed it.
“It’s as easy as that. Brilliant. I think it’s fantastic.”
Cllr Olly Mead said: “One-hundred per cent affordable, two wheelchair units of parking, 34 accessible or adaptable units — things that we desperately need in Bristol.
“It’s a really good use of that plot of land. With all the windows it will let in plenty of light.
“It will be a pleasant place to live.”
