The development of Bristol’s biggest eyesore moved closer last week. Bristol based PG Group completed its purchase of the Carriageworks and Westmorland House site on Stokes Croft. They have pledged to build it in accordance with the Planning Permission that was granted in October 2015.

The site has been empty and derelict since the mid 1980s. The Carriageworks Action Group (CAG) has been working with members of the local communities that surround it to secure redevelopment. CAG was set up in 2011 and is committed to work with any developer who will develop the site in line with the Community Vision for the Carriageworks. This was drawn up through extensive consultation with over 1600 people, and sets out a vision for this central Bristol site.

Lori Streich, Chair of CAG, said that the group has been in dialogue with the PG Group about their plans for the site. “We welcome the change of ownership and believe that the PG Group will finally put an end to 30 years of blight on this gateway site. We want to continue to work with them to ensure that the final scheme is an exemplary development that is both acceptable to the community and viable for a developer.”

The Carriageworks Action Group will be arranging a Community Meeting in the next few weeks, at which more details will be available.

Notes

• The Carriageworks Action Group (CAG) was set up 2011 to work with Bristol City Council to secure redevelopment of the Carriageworks and Westmorland House site. This had been owned but left derelict by the Comer Group/OpecPrime since 1989.
• Planning Permission was granted to Fifth Capital London in October 2015. CAG had a robust dialogue with Marc Pennick, Director of Fifth Capital, and his architects, which led to significant improvements to an initial Planning Application for the controversial site. Fifth Capital London then enabled the sale of the site to PG Group.
• Bristol based PG Group has now completed the purchase of the site and will develop it in accordance with the October 2015 Planning Permission
• CAG is committed to work with any developer who will develop the site in line with the Community Vision.

Community Vision:

• The Community Vision for the Carriageworks was developed in 2011 following consultation with over 1,600 people.
• It is framed in planning terms and sets out broad aspirations for the development of the site. Two Planning Committee (Development Control Committee A) meetings considered Fifth Capital London’s proposals for the site. Both acknowledged the importance of the Community Vision, and the role of CAG, in the process of the site receiving Planning Permission. When Planning Permission was finally granted, it was agreed that CAG should be involved in dialogue about the scheme as it develops.

Planning Permission:

• Planning Permission was granted in October 2015 for
  • 112 residential units
  • 1000 sq metres of non-residential units with permeable open space on the ground floor
  • A public access route from Ashley Road through to Stokes Croft
  • A ‘market space’ in the middle of the site, and small commercial units which are more likely to be occupied by independent traders than by larger chains.
• For fuller details, see: https://carriageworks.org.uk/proposals/fifth-capital-planning-application/scheme-with-planning-permission/
• PG Group proposals: https://carriageworks.org.uk/reports-minutes/pg-group-proposals-and-timetable/
  Please note that the timetable set out on this link has changed. PG Group has details of the new timeline.