News / Bristol Civic Society
Legal action begins in attempt to stop 28-storey tower
Planning permission for what could become the city’s tallest building was granted on “shaky grounds” according to Bristol Civic Society.
Lawyers instructed by the Civic Society have sent a pre-action protocol letter to Bristol City Council claiming that critical matters were missed in the information given to councillors and saying that mistakes were allegedly made in how councillors were advised to approve the planning application.
Plans for St James Square on the site of the current Premier Inn on Haymarket overlooking the Bearpit include the construction of a 28-storey tower solely made up of student flats next to an 18-storey co-living tower.
is needed now More than ever
The Premier Inn, previously used as offices for Avon County Council, will be demolished as part of future plans for the site – photo: Martin Booth
A Bristol Civic Society spokesperson claimed that councillors’ decision to aprove the new development, “through no fault of theirs, was legally unsound”.
Lawyers now say that councillors should be given the opportunity to reconsider the application.
The Civic Society spokesperson said: “Lawyers were instructed by the Civic Society to look at the advice to councillors because some of it didn’t look quite right.
“The Society considers such a controversial proposal with longstanding and widespread impacts should be considered properly, not least when a number of councillors said their decision was finely balanced.
Plans for the St James Square development include the demolition and redevelopment of the site into a 132 unit, 18-storey “co-living” tower and a 442 unit, 28-storey purpose-built student accommodation tower – image: Olympian Homes
“Previously, including in a public forum statement to councillors, the Society has said Bristol deserves better than what has been proposed, explaining ‘we can house our citizens in decent, affordable homes and densify with dignity, keeping the essence of Bristol’.
“The Civic Society also makes the point that having concerns about specific proposals should not be caricatured as NIMBYism. Setting up such a false choice does a disservice to serious consideration of important issues.
“Like anybody who cares about Bristol, the Society wants to see more affordable homes, and in numbers that make a difference.
“But the Society doesn’t support cutting corners in liveability, tackling the climate emergency or in delivering good design.
“Bristol shouldn’t be panicked into accepting second-best. The sad legacy of previous ‘statement’ developments shows what happens when you do.”
Developers behind plans to build the two tower blocks have previously told Bristol24/7 that their proposals will “transform a hostile and rundown site”.
Olympian Homes associate director Oliver d’Erlanger said: “Clearly the site needs redeveloping. Everyone knows what a hostile and rundown place this has become.
“This shouldn’t be what people arriving at and departing from Bristol Bus & Coach Station should be welcomed by.
“So we are proposing to completely transform the whole site, with the ground floor on a single level, and two thirds of the site used for really high-quality and attractive public open space…
“It’s also a real boost for struggling Broadmead: bringing people to live, work and socialise in the city centre is the best way to regenerate it.
“We’ve worked hard with council officers and other local stakeholders to ensure this mixed-used regeneration provides as many benefits to the city as possible.
“That, of course, includes 26 affordable homes as well as the huge public realm investment.”
Main image: Olympian Homes
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