North Bristol housing development could face legal challenge

Residents in north Bristol have started a crowdfunder to help them launch a legal challenge against plans for a housing development in the area.

Bristol City Council’s housing company Goram Homes wants to build up to 150 homes on the former Dovercourt Depot in Lockleaze.

But residents say legal support is needed to ensure their voices opposing the development – which covers woodland and part of a wildlife corridor – are heard.

The proposed development site also includes an area of green space – the Dovercourt Open Green Space – to the south of it, where an emergency access road is planned.

David Martin, who lives on Dovercourt Road, says residents are looking to raise £3,000 to pay for a town planner to help them draw up professional opposition to the plans.

He said: “We are not looking to fight housing being built, but we want to protect our green space and ensure opposition from local residents is listened to and addressed.”

The former Dovercourt Depot in Lockleaze has been earmarked by the council for up to 150 homes. Photo by Emily Shimell

Richard Dinham, a spokesperson for the Dovercourt Road Residents Group, says that their primary concern about the proposed housing is the location of the emergency access route.

He adds that residents are getting independent traffic surveys carried out, with the additional traffic and increased pollution the development could bring being another big concern for locals.

Dinham said: “With professional aid, we can draw up legal letters and run through the options, opposing what we want to oppose.

“We can look at alternatives and show the impact of traffic with all of the developments, not just on an individual basis without the other 1,200 new homes [for Lockleaze] included.”

Residents are concerned about an emergency access route which would cut through a green space and wooded area to the south of the proposed development site. Photo by Bristol City Council

Chris Jones, who lives next to the proposed emergency access route, says the plans have made him angry and depressed.

He said: “I live on the end house, and of course, I don’t want a road outside my back gate. This green space is a wonderful little area; people come to walk their dogs, play with their kids. I’m very keen for this to stay a green space.”

While Alex George, who has lived on Dovercourt Road for 10 years, believes that the new development is going to drive families away.

She added: “This is the last straw for us – things we love about the area just keep disappearing. I am utterly amazed that anyone would consider building a road through our little green haven.”

Dovercourt Open Green Space in Lockleaze is what residents describe as a ‘little green haven’. Photo by Emily Shimell

Residents are also concerned about the impact of the housing plans on wildlife. “There’s bats, baby deer – the proposed site is an incredible wildlife corridor,” says Oliver Mochizuki of Dovercourt Road.

Mochizuki fears that this particular development is akin to the Bonnington Walk development in Lockleaze, where 188 homes are currently being built on an area of greenfield land.

He continued: “There was massive local objection to Bonnington Walk and there was the promised protection of many trees, but instead they devastated the site and went back on what they said they would do.

“Sadly, therefore we feel we have to get professional support on this challenge.”

Residents are concerned about the plans to run an access road across Dovercourt Open Green Space. Photo by Emily Shimell

Alex George from Lockleaze adds that residents don’t feel listened to, and they feel the consultations are just the council “paying lip service”.

“They say they want us involved and that they are community-led, but we don’t feel this is the case. They have their housing agenda and I think these developments are going to move forward whatever we say.”

Richard from the Residents Group echoes this: “It seems the only way to do this now is to go down the legal route, to help us fight this professionally, which is why we have launched the crowdfunder.”

Concerns have also been raised as to the increase in traffic, parking issues and pollution that the Dovercourt Depot development could bring. Photo by Emily Shimell

In response to residents’ concerns, Bristol City Council cabinet member for housing delivery and homes, Tom Renhard, says that around 50 per cent of the new homes on the Dovercourt Depot site would be “affordable”.

He told Bristol24/7: “These proposals are currently open for public consultation until the end of the month, following an opening round of public consultation earlier this year.

“This includes revised proposals for an alternative emergency access that avoids constructing across the open space, minimising any loss of trees and ensuring the area can continue to be enjoyed by local residents.

“We welcome the views of the local community on these plans for much-needed new homes, alongside the tree planting and transport proposals, which will be gathered to help shape the outline planning stage of the project prior to a planning application being submitted.”

Bristol City Council ran its first consultation on the proposed Dovercourt Depot development in April 2021. A second consultation is expected early autumn. You can also support the Dovercourt Road Residents Group’s crowdfunder by visiting: www.fundsurfer.com/crowdfund/save-dovercourt-road-green-space.

Emily Shimell is reporting on Lockleaze as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media.

Main photo by Emily Shimell

Read more: Lockleaze residents demand ‘more than just houses’ in an area earmarked for over 1000 new homes

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