Environment Secretary John Gummer has ordered a public inquiry into a proposal by THI Leisure Parks and Mercury Asset Management to develop a leisure complex with cinema at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. The inquiry is scheduled to begin in September.
The site, off Lysander Road, has consent for B8 use and is in an employment zone. It had originally been earmarked for development as the Kingsthorne Business Park.
An application for leisure facilities at JT Bayliss and Prudential’s Cribbs Causeway scheme has been approved. However, as the complex will form part of the £200m regional shopping centre, it conforms to PPG6 guidelines.
THI and Mercury are considering their reaction to Gummer’s decision but are understood to be very disappointed. The scheme is thought to be one of the first leisure developments to be called in since the issue of the revised PPG6.
The joint venture’s original application to Northavon District Council was also called in by Gummer. As a result, a second application was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council – the new unitary authority – which recommended approval.
EGi News 03/07/96
