News / Clifton
Campaigners mount legal challenge against homes on former zoo
Campaigners who want to prevent homes being built on the historic former site of Bristol Zoo are hoping to use the courts to challenge the decision taken by Bristol City Council to allow development of the land in Clifton.
Plans for the 12-acre site on the edge of the Downs include almost 200 new homes and free public access to the gardens for the first time in 186 years.
Campaigners say their challenge is about “environmental destruction” but they have been slammed as attempting to prevent “much-needed housing” for the city, with Bristol Zoological Society and the council both pledging they will “robustly defend” against the application for a judicial review which they say “has no merit”.
is needed now More than ever
Plans for former zoo include 196 “high-quality, sustainable homes” located mainly around the perimeter of the site – image: Bristol Zoological Society
The crowdfunder, which hopes to raise £10,000, urges people to help save “a historic, biodiverse and nature rich urban garden from housing development” by raising funds to judicially review what campaigners describe as “a flawed planning approval”.
In April 2023, councillors approved controversial plans for 196 homes on the former Bristol Zoo site despite large public opposition.
The plans received just 60 supporting comments, and nearly 1000 objections, including those from Bristol Tree Forum, Clifton College, Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society, Bristol Civic Society and Avon Gardens Trust.
Despite planning approval being granted, Bristol Zoological Society have yet to sell the land.
Future plans will see the park in the centre of the former zoo become accessible to the public – image: Bristol Zoological Society
A spokesperson for Save Bristol Zoo Gardens said: “Bristolians objected in their thousands to the plan to build luxury flats on the former Zoo Gardens site and that strength of feeling has not gone away.
“We have been delighted with the response so far to our CrowdJustice page.
“There has been a lot of spin about the proposed development, which finally received formal planning at the end of June.
“Bristolians should be aware that the likelihood of the Gardens ever being open to the public for free is pretty remote.
“There is still no money and no credible management plan behind the promise, and in any event any developer can apply to get out of it after five years.
“The small amount of so-called ‘affordable’ housing may well never be built.
“This legal challenge is about getting the planning permission quashed and giving the council and the Zoo the opportunity for a proper re-think.
“We need a better plan for Bristol than turning the gardens into a gated development of luxury flats – and really ugly ones at that.
“The environmental impact of the development – from a conservation charity remember – is unacceptable.
“Almost half the trees would be chopped down, and the flower borders will disappear under concrete. A road and parking would pollute the gardens for the first time in its history.
“Our legal challenge is about this environmental destruction. Council planners allowed the Zoological Society to use an outdated method for calculating the impact on nature in its planning application – and as a result showed a gain, not the loss which actually would result.
“The planner’s assessment of the carbon dioxide released by demolition and new construction materials that would be used was wrong.
“We also argue that as an Important Open Space, the Gardens cannot actually be built on – and that the reasons the planners gave for allowing it were wrong.
“We should remember that it was only the three Green councillors in planning committee who had the foresight and judgment to see through the spin and greenwashing and who refused to approve Bristol Zoological Society’s application.
“It is fitting that our legal challenge is about green issues.
“If the application is quashed, we will look forward to the new administration showing leadership and vision in its approach to development and setting aside the nature-destroying developers charter of the past.”
Despite Bristol Zoo closing in September 2022, some animals still remain on the site – photo: Martin Booth
In a statement, a spokesperson from Bristol Zoological Society said: “The application for a judicial review of Bristol City Council’s decision, to approve the redevelopment of the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site, is seeking to stop a development that will bring much-needed housing for Bristol.
“The redevelopment would bring 196 new homes, 20 per cent affordable, a new public park which will see the gardens accessible for free for the first time, a new cafe, playground and conservation hub.
“We remain confident in our plans and genuinely believe this is the right thing for Bristol.
“The sale will support the creation of a new conservation zoo at our Bristol Zoo Project site where at least 80 per cent of species we care for will be both threatened, and part of targeted conservation programmes.
“Both we and Bristol City Council have taken independent legal advice and will robustly defend against this application for a judicial review, which in our opinion has no merit.
“With regards to the trees on site, to protect the most important trees like the monkey puzzle tree, the Society has put in place 29 tree protection orders, and the design of the buildings has been carefully planned to protect tree roots.
“In total, there are 218 existing trees on site (excluding groups of tree shrubs / understorey trees) of which we are proposing to remove 80 trees.
“Most of the trees to be removed are of a low quality and have been assessed as Category U or C.
“None of the trees planned for removal have been assessed as Category A. Of those being removed, 44 trees will be translocated, and 470 new trees will be planted, which far exceeds Bristol Tree Replacement Standard.”
Main photo: Bristol24/7
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