Developers will restart the stalled Bedminster Green project with tower blocks and young people’s specialist accommodation
Illustration of the proposed co-living building next to St Catherine’s House and St Catherine’s Shopping Centre in Bedminster(Image: Corstorphine & Wright Architects)
Plans to redevelop the area around what was labelled ‘Britain’s saddest shopping centre’ have been renewed, changed and resurrected after they stalled for years with nothing getting built.
New developers have revealed plans for two empty sites either side of the former St Catherine’s Place shopping centre in South Bristol, which finally closed down a couple of years ago and saw its shops converted into flats.
Its redevelopment, and building on the empty spaces either side of the shopping centre were a key part of the Bedminster Green regeneration project, which has already seen more than 300 flats built next door at Little Paradise, Bristol’s biggest single student accommodation complex on the other side of the road at Dalby Avenue, and work on a second large-scale student accommodation complex well underway.
Now, developers Galliard Homes and Apsley House Capital are about to unveil their plans for the two sites either side of St Catherine’s House.
The larger site, on Malago Road, was the location of the discovery of an 18th century mill, as seen on TV archaeology programme Digging for Britain earlier last year. It currently houses a temporary energy centre for Bedminster’s District Heat Network, and five years ago, councillors gave permission for a block of flats to be built there.
Now, developers want to build what would be Bristol’s biggest ‘co-living’ development to date. The plan is to build 267 ‘co-living’ homes, 28 of which would be ‘accessible’ in a tower block of a similar scale to the one planning permission has already been granted for.
‘Co-living’ is a new-ish and controversial concept in housing in Bristol. It is similar to purpose-built student accommodation, with people having en-suite rooms but sharing communal spaces, but not for students.
Some have already opened in converted buildings in Bristol, notably in the Old Market area, but city councillors controversially relaxed planning rules about the minimum amount space a person can live in, to give the go-ahead to several large-scale ‘co-living’ builds in the past couple of years.
One of the two tower blocks being built currently next to the Bearpit will be for around 142 ‘co-living’ homes, while permission has already been granted for 249 ‘co-living’ homes on the site of the Rupert Street NCP car park in the city centre.
The empty site that is part of the Bedminster Green Regeneration project, located between St Catherine’s House and Stafford Street – as seen from Malago Road(Image: Google Maps)
The St Catherine’s Place ‘co-living’ development will be even bigger – with 267 rooms on a site between two existing tower blocks opposite Bedminster Green on Malago Road.
On the other side of St Catherine’s House, on a smaller site which used to be public toilets and the underpass under the main road, the developers are proposing something a lot smaller.
They are proposing a young person’s housing scheme, which will provide homes for those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or transitioning to independent living.
As part of a young persons’ housing scheme, 12 studios will be positioned over two floors with shared amenity space below. The accommodation will be managed to provide support services such as help with life skills, mental health and wellbeing, education and employment.
The Galliard Apsley Partnership is partnering with Bristol City Council ’s Children’s Services team to help meet a critical shortage of local young persons’ housing.
This part of the scheme has been backed by Dom Wood, the chief exec of Bristol’s leading young person’s homelessness organisation, 1625 Independent People.
“Bristol is an expensive city and young people find it difficult to secure affordable accommodation and access entry level work here,” he said.
Illustration of the proposed young persons’ housing building next to St Catherine’s House and St Catherine’s Shopping Centre in Bedminster(Image: Corstorphine & Wright Architects)
“This project will allow young people to have a secure base, where they will have dedicated support to stabilise their lives, to build the qualifications and skills they need to start a journey into work that fits their values, and gain independence for the future,” he added.
A spokesperson for the developers said ‘Co-living’ would provide ‘long-term stability’ for people in ‘self-contained studio apartments’.
“Co-living is a modern housing model where residents rent self-contained studio apartments with their own kitchenette, bathroom, bed and living space,” he said.
“But they also have a range of shared facilities and spaces where they can meet and socialise with other residents – this typically includes living rooms, larger kitchens and dining rooms, cinema rooms, and shared workspaces. Co-living offers long-term stability, with tenants living in a professionally managed, residential community,” he added.
Getting the two sites either side of St Catherine’s House developed will be a key part in unlocking the stalled Bedminster Green regeneration scheme, which has seen only build-to-rent flats and student flats built so far.
“These two sites are central to the success of the Bedminster Green regeneration,” the spokesperson for the developers explained.
A site on the corner of Dalby Avenue, next to St Catherine’s House, which is proposed to be developed into young people’s specialist housing(Image: Google Maps)
“Although planning permission has already been granted, they have remained vacant for several years, meaning they are not helping to meet Bristol’s housing needs or contributing positively to the local area.
“We’ve worked closely with partners to develop proposals that make the sites viable, delivering much-needed homes while creating a better environment for the wider community. Alongside high-quality co-living accommodation, the young persons’ housing scheme will provide supported homes for some of Bristol’s most vulnerable young people.
“Together, these uses will bring new life to the area, increasing footfall, supporting local businesses and helping complete this important part of the Bedminster Green regeneration. We look forward to hearing the community’s feedback on our proposals,” he added.
“”The new proposals differ from the consented scheme in several ways, including that the young persons’ housing scheme is just three storeys compared to a six-storey storey building that was previously granted planning permission.
“As well as the new homes, the scheme would see a new pedestrian route through the site to East Street via Mill Lane, with more green spaces, separating the buildings from the street,” he added.
The developers will need to submit a fresh planning application for both buildings, but first are consulting with local residents in Bedminster on their plans before an application to the council is submitted. Details of the proposals are here.