The housing association behind a proposed 146-home affordable housing development in Bristol has stood by its plans as the scheme looks set to be knocked back by council officials this week.
The recommended refusal for 493-499 Bristol Road in Brislington comes six months after a decision was deferred to allow Sovereign Housing Association to counter criticisms of the scheme.
Sovereign hopes to turn the former factory site into affordable apartments and houses across five blocks. Thirty-two of the homes would be for social rent with the remainder affordable housing.
The council’s planning committee has been recommended to refuse Sovereign’s proposals on the grounds of “unacceptable” design quality, a failure to make an appropriate contribution to the provision of affordable housing, and the fact that its energy facilities will not meet the city’s “heat hierarchy” measures.
The plans were recommended for rejection on similar grounds last September. A decision was deferred to allow Sovereign to make changes to the proposals. These include increasing the number of homes served by air source heat pumps and design changes to the unit layouts.
James Gibson, development director for Sovereign, said the scheme is “a flagship development” and that the organisation wants to “set a gold standard for purpose-built affordable housing in Bristol and the west of England”.
Gibson continued: “This scheme is not a compromise or a cost saving, nor is it one where decisions are being driven by profit or gain. At a time when [Bristol City Council] are unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, “fail” the Housing Delivery Test, and have a housing waiting list of 15,232 households, these proposals, which could start on site in autumn 2021, would deliver a development that is environmentally sustainable and socially and financially responsible for future affordable housing residents.”
He added: “Put simply, this is a scheme that seeks to do the right thing on all fronts, and we consider that in light of the above, the benefits of our proposals significant outweigh any perceived shortcomings.”
The planning committee meets on 4 March.
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