This week’s most notable planning applications to Bristol City Council
An artist impression of what the new M&S store will look like in Cabot Circus(Image: M&S)
Changes could soon be made to the former House of Fraser store in Cabot Circus where Marks & Spencer is moving in this autumn under new plans recently submitted.
Each week Bristol City Council receives dozens of planning applications seeking permission for a whole range of developments.
Over the past seven days, those applications also included urgent repairs to walls at an independent school and the conversion of an ex-Labour Party branch headquarters to flats.
Here’s this week’s round-up of notable planning applications submitted to the council.
Every week dozens are validated by the local authority and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals.
All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public.
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Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications — whether in support or objection.
The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers.
However, some will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined.
They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Bristol City Council’s website.
M&S moving back to Bristol city centre
Marks & Spencer has submitted plans for external changes to the former House of Fraser store in Cabot Circus.
The high street retailer wants permission to put its branding on the three-storey anchor store and change some entrances and fire exits.
Last July, M&S announced it would return to the city centre after closing its Broadmead outlet in January 2022 after 70 years.
The company is investing £21million to transform the huge unit, including a large cafe and grocery supermarket, along with clothing and home goods.
House of Fraser was open for 16 years before shutting in August 2024.
In planning documents, M&S’s agents said: “The proposed alterations are required to support M&S’s significant investment in Bristol’s city centre and occupation of Cabot Circus’s anchor store.
“The proposed external alterations will enhance the appearance of the store and support the occupation of the key anchor store within Cabot Circus, enhancing the primary shopping centre and wider city centre.
“The proposed development will create an attractive new shopfront for customers.”
The plans include replacing some swing-door customer entrances with automatic doors and closing the secondary entrance on the first floor.
QEH wall repairs
Urgent repairs are needed to boundary and retaining walls at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (QEH) private boys’ school in Clifton.
The school is seeking consent for the works at the Grade II-listed building in Berkeley Place.
In planning documents, architects said: “The existing boundary and retaining walls present a health and safety risk and have been identified as requiring urgent attention following an inspection by a structural engineer.
“The proposed works will not affect the ongoing use of the main school buildings and will ensure they are safeguarded, and the heritage asset retained for future generations.
“The proposed works are sympathetic and pose little harm to the protected architectural and historic character of Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital.”
The boundary walls were built between 1803 and 1828 and the retaining walls on the school grounds from 1844 to 1847.
Former Labour HQ to flats
The former Bedminster and Southville Labour Party headquarters could be converted into flats.
The two-storey building in Chessel Street, on the corner of Ruby Street, Bedminster, would be turned into a pair of two-bedroom apartments, one on each floor.
Developers are asking if prior approval is required for a change of use from offices to residential.
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