Today we launch the campaign for the future of the Carriageworks and Westmoreland House.
We are a group of local residents, groups and businesses working together to develop a new community vision for the site.
We start our work to find out what you and other local people think should happen to the buildings on Saturday 17th September with street surveys. We’ll also be providing free rickshaw rides in and around Stokes Croft in return for you giving us your vision for the site.
Over the following four weeks we will be delivering leaflets to every household in the area, doing more street surveys, holding drop-ins, talking to businesses and local groups, running workshops and doing anything else we can think of to find out what people in the local area think should happen on the site.
In November we’ll analyse all the results and come up with a draft vision. We’ll then ask you what you think about it before agreeing the final version at the end of the year.
You can find out more on this website. Then tell us what you think – filling in the online survey would be a really good start.
And if you can help out with all the consultation and events we’d love to hear from you.
About the Carriageworks and Westmoreland House
The Carriageworks was designed by EW Godwin, an important Victorian Architect. It is a Grade II* listed building in poor condition and is on the buildings “at risk” register.
Westmoreland House is the 6 storey 1960s concrete frame office building, last occupied in 1986 by the Football Pools Company.
At the rear is 4 Ashley Road, a derelict but Grade II listed house.
Together with land at the rear, the site is the same size as 1.6 football pitches.
The site is celebrating a rather tarnished silver jubilee, having lain derelict for a shocking 25 years.
In 1989 planning permission was granted for the development of 63 flats, offices and underground parking.
In 2006 the Council and local communities agreed a policy for a variety of uses on the site including residential, business and leisure facilities.
In 2010 the Government Planning Inspector refused a planning application for 153 flats, 5 shops and 112 parking spaces.
In 2011 a planning application was submitted by the owners for the development of 183 flats, shops and underground parking on the site. The application is being considered by the City Council as planning authority.
The buildings and surrounding land are owned by the Comer Homes Group, a London based property developer which bought the site in the 1980s.