News / Welsh Back
Car park could be demolished to make way for student accommodation
A new car-free student accommodation block could be built on the site of a former multi-storey car park which has student flats bolted on top of it.
Waverley House was constructed above the NCP car park on Queen Charlotte Street, which has been closed for more than a year.
The new Waverley House from Unite Students could provide beds for 507 students – more than double the existing number on the site – as well as featuring new public realm and “active frontages”, improving what is currently a rather uninspiring corner of the city centre.
is needed now More than ever
The proposed new Waverley House as seen from Welsh Back – image: Alec French Architects
A planning application has been submitted for the development which borders Queen Charlotte Street, Welsh Back and Crow Lane.
The tallest section of the plans contains 16 storeys and is 62 metres high.
In their design and access statement to Bristol City Council, Alec French Architects said “the project will help to deliver high quality student housing provision that meets the emerging needs of the University of Bristol in close proximity to the new university campus”.
“In order to deliver the level of required housing, the proposals are required to maximise development on site. The project concentrates upon the creation of a sustainable and contextually relevant scheme.”
An axonometric view of the site between Queen Charlotte Street, Welsh Back and Crow Lane – image: Alec French Architects
Alec French say that one of the key objectives of the scheme is “to address the negative contribution of the existing building to the character and appearance of the conservation area, improving local and long distance views through new design of quality and a more appropriate contextual response”.
The Trenchard Street-based firm also promise to “provide high quality architecture that can contribute positively to the character and identity of the City and Queen Square Conservation Area by responding to the line, form, strong base, articulation, celebrated top, rhythm and proportions of the surrounding building elevations”.
The new Waverley House as seen from the other side of the docks – image: Alec French Architects
In conclusion, Alec French say their proposed scheme “not only enhances the environment for residents but also cultivates a more vibrant and cohesive urban setting”.
They also say that the plan “optimises the potential of the site without causing any harm to the neighbouring built heritage assets allowing for their preservation” and the development “responds positively to its urban context and beholds a design concept that is sensitive to local townscape in the area”.
“Provision of new high quality public realm (will) enhance connectivity” and “active frontages along the edges of the site (will) animate what is currently a hostile environment in comparison with the surrounding context”.
Waverley House student accommodation is currently bolted on top of a former car park – photo: Martin Booth
Main image: Alec French Architects
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