News / Clifton
Zoo boss accuses Save Bristol Gardens Alliance of ‘relentless campaign of misinformation’
The day after a public meeting to prevent homes from being built on the site of Bristol’s former zoo, the charity that owns the land in Clifton announced it has exchanged sale contracts with a house builder.
A bitter war of words has also broken out between Bristol Zoological Society and Save Bristol Gardens Alliance after the society’s chief executive accused campaigners of “a relentless campaign of misinformation”.
Despite the charity exchanging sale contracts, they say that a legal fight is preventing them from receiving funds from the sale to Acorn which is impacting their ability to carry out conservation work.
is needed now More than ever
Planning consent for the former zoo site overlooking the Downs was granted by Bristol City Council in April 2023 and would see the creation of 196 new homes, a new public park, a cafe, playground and conservation hub.
But Save Bristol Gardens Alliance – whose supporters include author and broadcaster Alice Roberts, and former mayor George Ferguson – fear that developers will not be able to guarantee the affordable housing element of the scheme or free public access to the former zoo’s gardens, and say that the site could “become a private gated development of luxury flats”.
Planning consent for the former zoo site was granted in April 2023 and would see the creation of 196 new homes, a new public park, a cafe, playground and conservation hub – image: Perkins & Will
Bristol Zoological Society chief executive, Justin Morris, said: “Since we announced our new strategy in 2020, which included the closure of Bristol Zoo Gardens and development of a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project, we have faced a relentless campaign of misinformation.
“We have also had to spend thousands of pounds in legal fees, and this will continue with the judicial review this year.
“We are a conservation and education charity trying to save and protect the world’s most threatened species, and yet those against our plans continue to put our future conservation work in doubt, undermining the hard work of our staff and volunteers.
“The move to Bristol Zoo Project has always been about our vision for what we think a zoo should be.
“The new zoo will allow us to improve animal welfare, in larger natural habitats, and focus our resources on animals that really need our help.
“The gorilla and mangabey habitat will be four and a half times larger than their home at the old site in Clifton.
“To be clear, we will not be reopening Bristol Zoo Gardens as a zoo in any capacity.
“In the five years since we announced its closure, not one viable alternative plan has ever been put forward to us, with the finances to back it up.
“Before taking the decision to sell the site, we took extensive expert advice. Now, we have exchanged sale contracts with independent housebuilder Acorn Property Group.
“Acorn Property Group is committed to delivering the new homes and public space in Clifton, ensuring the gardens remain open to the public free of charge, for the first time in their 186-year history.
“Of the homes to be built, 20 per cent will be affordable and the site will also offer a new public park, cafe and playground.
“The iconic zoo entrance building will also become the Clifton Conservation Hub – a public cafe, exhibition space, education and meeting spaces.”
The last day at Bristol Zoo was September 3 2022 – photo: Barbara Evripidou
Robin Squire, regional managing director of Acorn’s Bristol office, said: “As a local developer, we’re proud to be part of this landmark regeneration project for Bristol.
“It’s an exceptional venture which will give a new lease of life to the former Bristol Zoo Gardens.
“Having first visited the zoo nearly 50 years ago, I fully understand the connection that many people feel to this incredibly important site. We do not take the responsibility of delivering this project lightly.
“We respect the judicial review process and, upon its determination, look forward to engaging with the local community.
“At that point, we will invite anyone with an interest in the future of the site to meet with us, share their views, and discuss the vision.
“We are fully committed to the scheme, including the provision of affordable housing in partnership with a local housing association, restoration of historic structures and buildings, and ensuring public access to the gardens, which will see them open for free for the first time.
“Acorn has a strong track record of delivering award-winning design-led residential, new-build and regeneration developments.
“Our specialist knowledge and experienced team means we are well suited to take on this development.”
Zoo bosses stress that access to the gardens in Clifton will see them open for free for the first time – image: Perkins & Will
A spokesperson for the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance said that following the success of the public meeting at Christ Church in Clifton, they “are not entirely surprised by the timing of this announcement” from Bristol Zoological Society and Acorn.
The spokesperson said: “Given the pending judicial review in May, which if successful will overturn the current planning permission for housing on the site, we expect that this arrangement is highly conditional on both sides.
“The prospect of a sale to a housing developer going through on a site without any planning consent must be remote.
“We are also aware of mystifying statements made today by the zoo board and the chief executive to their shareholders that the Alliance is pursuing a campaign of ‘misinformation’ against the zoo – and invite them to explain this.
“If they are referring to our assertion that the zoo is not able to guarantee free public access to the zoo gardens to the public in perpetuity – which the zoo repeatedly claims to defend its dreadful scheme – this is fact.
“It is fact because there is no money and no credible management plan to support free public access.
“It is also fact because any developer, such as Acorn Group, may apply to the council to have such a condition set aside after five years.
“There is every reason to fear that expensive inconveniences like maintaining a free public park, providing so called ‘affordable housing’, and mitigating the enormous environmental harm the development will cause will in time be dropped, and that the site will become a private gated development of luxury flats.
“Save Bristol Gardens Alliance is not a campaign to bring back a zoo or zoo animals.
“For our part we are respectful of the zoo’s work on species conservation and wish them success.
“We are simply convinced that their proposal for this historic, unique, urban garden is the wrong plan in the wrong place – and that a far better solution exists, which will preserve the gardens and benefit all of Bristol’s communities well into the future.
“Judging by the amazing response to our public meeting, very many Bristolians share this view.”
Many people have fond memories of the former Bristol Zoo, with Bristol Zoo Project now open in South Glos – photo: Barbara Evripidou
Main image: Perkins & Will
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
