Plans for 600-bed student accommodation unveiled 

A proposal that could see an industrial site in St Philip’s turned into student accommodation has been revealed.

The new vision for the Dings site would see 637 flats built in two buildingss up to eight storeys high, along with a “community space”, ‘maker’ industrial units and a supermarket.

The site, currently home to a Calor Gas storage yard and the Invisible Circus HQ and 16 creative studios, is bordered by Kingsland Road, Sussex Street, Alfred Street and the Bristol & Bath Railway Path.

People are invited to give their feedback on the proposals before a formal planning application is submitted to Bristol City Council, with a public consultation running until March 17.

Architects Alfred Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and landscape architects and horticulturists Churchman Thornhill Finch are working with Dominus Real Estate on the development – image: AHMM

The plan, detailed by developer Dominus Real Estate, is to build mixed-use complex student accommodation flats proposed above the ground floor.

It comprises two buildings running in parallel with Kingsland Road, connected by an internal bridge. The lowest buildings would be located closest to the nearest homes, with heights starting at four storeys and five, six, seven and eight storeys towards the Railway Path and Alfred Street.

The scheme would be car-free, other than four disabled parking bays, with bike storage proposed, and create more than 50 jobs through the construction and ground floor uses. Currently in a private area, Henry Street would be reinstated and made accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

Developers said it is a 12-minute walk to the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and Temple Meads Station.

The view of the site from Kingsland Bridge – photo: Dominus Real Estate

Jay Ahluwalia, principal director at Dominus Real Estate, said: “Since October 2022 we have worked in collaboration with community groups, local businesses and councillors, to understand new partnerships and valuable projects we can bring to life as part of our meaningful commitment to social value.

“Through extensive engagement, we have understood that a new community space, workshops for local creative businesses and a neighbourhood supermarket would have a real and positive impact locally. We have therefore ensured that our plans incorporate these ideas, to hopefully make them a reality.”

Old Market Community Association’s Paul Bradburn said: “The scheme now includes much-needed workshop spaces for local creative businesses, as well as eight townhouses helping bring activity right down to street level, and reflect the traditional housing in the Dings.

“So, we fully support the current approach to delivering real and tangible community assets, and look forward to working with Dominus Real Estate in the coming months.”

The plans are the latest to be unveiled in St Philip’s, which is already undergoing numerous changes with several prominent developments in the pipeline, including a secondary school on Silverthorne Lane (designed by AHMM), the Temple Quarter regeneration programme and other student flats.

A public exhibition is being held on Thursday at the Community Room, Hannah More Primary School, New Kingsley Road, Bristol, BS2 0LT, from 2.45pm to 7pm.

To share your views online, visit: www.newhenrystreet.co.uk

Main image: AHMM

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