The long-awaited redevelopment of “three city centre eyesore buildings” around St Mary le Port Tower in Bristol can now move forward after government decided not to call in the plans.
MEPC’s proposals for around 340,000 sq ft of new office space in Bristol’s city centre were approved by Bristol City Council’s planning committee last year. Bristol Civic Society then requested the secretary of state call in the proposals and hold an independent public inquiry.
However, MEPC confirmed today it would be pressing ahead with the project after the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the application should be decided at a local level.
Designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and landscape architects Grant Associates, the plans include shops, cafés, restaurants and bars.
The project will fund the repair and reuse of St Mary le Port Tower and ruins which are presently on Historic England’s “Heritage at Risk” register. Once complete, St Mary le Port Tower and ruins will be open to the public for the first time in decades, with four streets and routes reinstated that were lost in the Blitz.
As part of the plans, there will be 50,000 sq ft of new public realm, including new public space around St Mary le Port Tower, with landscaped terraces leading down to the floating harbour. The plans will increase the amount of soft landscaping on site by more than 200% and generate an on-site biodiversity uplift of more than 85%.
Chris Kimber-Nickelson, development director at MEPC, the commercial development and asset management arm of Federated Hermes, said: “We don’t have an exact start date but will be working to get on site as quickly as we can.”
Chris Taylor, chief executive of real estate at Federated Hermes, said: “We are encouraged by the decision to approve plans for St Mary le Port. This unites great public realm alongside sensitive preservation of the rich heritage buildings in what will be a community-engaged mixed-use scheme.”
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: “It’s a really important site and scheme for Bristol, transforming a long-derelict site and restoring an 11th century church. By securing investment into the city, this scheme will turn three city centre eyesore buildings into new offices and shops, creating new jobs and helping this underused site to thrive once again.”
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