London & Paris and Norwich Union’s plans for a site in the Broadmead district in Bristol have been welcomed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), which congratulated the planners on their “intelligent approach to urban planning”.
The proposals centre on the church of St Mary Le Port and comprise 25,000 sq m (270,000 sq ft) of shops and restaurants, around 17,000 sq m (183,000 sq ft) of offices, a 9,000 sq m (97,000 sq ft) civil justice centre and 100 apartments.
The scheme is the subject of a public consultation process, with London & Paris expected to submit a planning application in the next few weeks.
The site, situated between Wine Street, the High Street, the Floating Harbour and Castle Park, is dominated by St. Peter’s church and St Mary Le Port church, and surrounded by post-World War II war buildings set to be demolished under the proposals. The tower of St. Mary’s would become the focal point of a new public space.
CABE said: “We warmly support the intelligent approach to urban planning embodied in this project. The remains of the two churches, in particular, are treated in a dignified and meaningful way, and they will contribute greatly to the richness of the place.”
The development will form the western part of a massive regeneration of Broadmead, Bristol’s main retail centre. A 9.6ha (23.7-acre) scheme for the majority of Broadmead, jointly put forward by Land Securities and Hammerson, has already been approved by Bristol City Council.
EGi News 16/07/01
