News / Nelson Street
20-storey tower could replace car park
A multi-storey car park could be demolished and replaced with a 20-storey tower containing hundreds of student beds.
The proposed redevelopment of the Nelson Street NCP in the city centre – as well as commercial units on the ground floor including Strange Brew music venue – has been revealed in planning documents.
New owners Downing, a real estate company that bought the building in November, is asking Bristol City Council whether it thinks the plans would have a significant effect on the environment.
is needed now More than ever
Strange Brew is one of several businesses on the ground floor of the Nelson Street car park – photo: Martin Booth
Downing’s agents, Clifton-based town planners Stride Treglown, say they should not have to compile a report assessing the impact of the revamp, which would be required if officers disagree.
Although it is not yet a formal planning application, the documents show the scale of what the developers have in mind to replace the 10-level car park bordering Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, The Pithay and All Saints’ Street, with Bristol24/7 first reporting the possibility of the car park being turned into student accomodation in November.
This mural by Italian artist Pixel Pancho remains on the side of the car park from See No Evil in 2012 – photo: Martin Booth
In a letter to council officers, Stride Treglown said: “The site offers a unique opportunity to promote a highly sustainable redevelopment in a key part of the city centre.”
New commercial units and student facilities would be created at street level, with up to 565 student beds above them in a building as high as 20 storeys, with adjacent blocks ranging from four to 15 floors.
The letter said council officers concluded an environmental statement was not required for a 19-storey residential tower in Redcliffe before they granted planning permission in 2022.
It said: “Given the city centre location of the site, it is concluded that there will not be any significant adverse effects caused by the proposed development.
“The scheme will be a predominantly car-free development. As part of their tenancy agreement, students will be required to agree not to bring vehicles into the area during their occupancy period.
“Biodiversity net gains of 10 per cent will be delivered on-site through new planting and other measures.”
It’s called Nelson Street car park but its entrance is on All Saints’ Street – photo: Martin Booth
The new building’s design would include solar panels and air-source heat pumps, while Downing was in talks with the local authority’s City Leap district heating provider Vattenfall to connect it to the network in the same way as the 24-storey Castle Park View tower.
Stride Treglown said: “The removal of the existing car park, with its poor-quality public realm, and its replacement with a new building and associated hard and soft landscaping works would undeniably bring with it health and wellbeing benefits to this part of the city centre and the wider central area, including Broadmead.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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