These are the five public car parks in and around Bristol city centre that could be redeveloped as part of separate housing schemes, with some of them proposed several years agoNelson Street Car Park(Image: Google Maps)

At least five well-known public car parks in and around the centre of Bristol are on the cards for demolition as part of new housing plans.

A couple of NCP multi-storeys alongside three open-air council car parks could see themselves turned into several hundred homes, following separate propositions. Bristol Live readers are unhappy at the thought of losing parking in the city centre.

The first of these received planners’ approval just some weeks past. While two of the plots will incorporate a number of parking spaces within the redevelopment, others have left out any mention of keeping parking spaces.

Although initial proposals for some sites appeared quite a while ago, the majority are still in preliminary planning phases with no set dates for construction as yet.

The NCP locations face demolition to make room for towering 20-storey student residence blocks, with one flagged by council officers as potentially “one of the largest buildings in Bristol city centre“.

The smaller-scale council car parks are targeted for ventures by Bristol City Council’s very own enterprise, Goram Homes.

In total, nearly 1,500 homes are planned across the five sites, encompassing student accommodation, communal living spaces and, particularly within council-led schemes, an assortment of social rent and shared ownership options. The locations and a brief summary of the proposals can be found here.

Commenter Busy Nan says: “Leave it alone. We don’t want any more student accommodation in the middle of town.”

Malagogogirl responds: “I disagree. The area between Broadmead and The Centre is much better now that people live there. It used to be pretty unpleasant at night around there, but now it’s got a bit of life to it and it feels safer to me. I’d be happy to see Nelson Street and Rupert Street car parks go – they’re ugly blights on central Bristol.”

Corvofg adds: “I have no issue with co-living space. It’s a good way for young working people to get their initial independence. It’s also a good option for professionals who come to the city for contract work. I think though that we’re reached the point where student accommodation and the big money it brings is blinding the council to the actual needs of the greater area.”

Macblank says: “No car parks, no cars – no cars no shoppers. That is not hard to work out.”

Phil McAvity responds: “No cars – more public transport used – less pollution – more healthy people and environment. If car parks cease to exist, people will be forced to use public transport and therefore change their habits.”

SpostBS asks: “What about the people who work in Bristol with no bus service or no bus when they need one, where are they going to park?”

Bmw asks: “Is this the final nail in Bristol’s coffin? Build places to live but you can’t have a car! Give Bristol a big miss, go to Bath, Swindon, go anywhere but Bristol. The Greens are decimating our City.”

Downtowngirl agrees: “Not more student boxes! How about the people who were born, now work and try to live in Bristol? They need houses, not flats. Bring back some retail, the shops which are leaving due to demolition will never come back.”

Gilvin adds: “Once all this building has been done, it will only be a matter of time before the shops have gone and Bristol will be the only city without a shopping centre.”

Katiem agrees: “There is not much to go into the centre for now. BCC have allowed it to die and their new plans will only be for students who seem to be taking over all new housing.”

KaptainVon says: “Developers are maximising profits by cramming as many bodies into as small a space as they can legally get away with. Meanwhile 22,000 households languish on local authority waiting lists and many more seek the kind of accommodation suitable for the needs of families, the elderly or the disabled. This isn’t building homes in a housing crisis, this is building vertical hives that neither foster community, house those most in need or contribute towards positive health outcomes.”

How do you feel about car parks being sacrificed for housing? Have your say in our comments section.