Plans to redevelop the former WH Smith site in Clifton Village, which was set to be transformed into a mixed use development, has been brought to a halt. Work on the old site, which has been dubbed ‘an eyesore’ in the heart of the village, was due to start in the second quarter of this year.
Green Party councillors, Katy Grant and Paula O’Rourke, who represent the Clifton ward at Bristol City Council, revealed earlier this week that the developers were no longer pursuing the scheme because it was "no longer viable.
Developers THAT Group did not respond to requests for comment, but the councillors said in a press statement THAT group had demolished the old buildings and had prepared the site for development. But as “construction costs have increased exponentially in the intervening period, making it commercially unviable to proceed, THAT Group has decided to reconsider how best to use the site.”
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On the corner of Clifton Down Road and Boyce’s Avenue, the prime site has been a subject of controversy for years. It was a row of derelict shops which remained empty for around ten years with constant rows over planning applications and the only activity was a temporary Christmas Ice Rink popping up in 2014.
In 2018, site owners THAT Group unveiled plans to re-develop and in January 2020, the council approved a new scheme to demolish the row of shops and create a new modern block of shops and cafes as proposed by THAT.
Opponents to the scheme included Historic England, the Civic Society, the Conservation Advisory Panel, the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society and the Mall Garden’s Residents Association. Some said bringing in big chain stores such as Marks & Spencer would threaten small independent shops, while others said it would block daylight for residents on King’s Road and others described the plans were ‘inappropriate’ and ‘insensitive’.
In 2021 work got underway to demolish the old buildings and prepare the site. In 2022 and in January this year, THAT Group asked the council if the plans could be tweaked to include a gym or fitness studio, while the entrance needed slight modification. The latest change was posted by the council in January 2023 and again there were objections which requires a full report from council planning.
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Councillor Katy Grant said: ““This will be disappointing news for our residents as Clifton is a vibrant town centre and having a large empty site at its very heart is damaging. For the regeneration of high streets, and for general amenity for residents and visitors to Clifton, we can’t continue to leave this important site boarded up and empty as it has been for over 8 years.”
Councillor Paula O'Rourke added: “While we understand the challenges and we will support THAT Group in revisions for their next planning proposals, we will be focussing on how the site could be developed for attractive and regenerative 'meanwhile' use. By this, we mean that we will be working with THAT group to bring the site back into temporary activity – we would like to see something like Wapping Wharf container-style units placed on the site while THAT group reassess their options.”
