An industrial site close to Bristol city centre could have accommodation for more than 600 students built on it instead, according to plans unveiled by developers. Two blocks of student rooms would be built on the current Calor Gas depot in St Phillips, on a prominent site next to the Bristol-to-Bath Railway Path, close to the household recycling centre.
The area is part of the Temple Quarter regeneration zone, and is expected to undergo a huge transformation, with the arrival of a new Bristol University campus next to Temple Meads station in the next few years.
But developer Dominus Real Estate is getting in early with its plans for the site, which is on the corner of Sussex Street and Kingsland Road, next to The Dings neighbourhood.
The developer has already shared its plans with a local neighbourhood planning group, and is presenting them at a drop in event at Hannah More Primary School nearby, on Thursday this week, March 9.
The two student blocks will be up to eight storeys high, but it will be a mixed development. On the ground floors of the building, the developers are planning new ‘maker’ light industrial units, a community space and a supermarket, and the development will also reinstate an old Victorian street - Henry Street, which will run up the middle of the site, and connect with the railway path to the north.
“The site is in the perfect position to provide new student rooms, supporting the university’s new campus which will sit at the heart of Temple Quarter,” said Jay Ahluwalia, Dominus’ principal director. “Since October 2022 we have worked in collaboration with community groups, local businesses and councillors, to understand new partnerships and valuable projects we can bring to life as part of our meaningful commitment to social value.
“Through extensive engagement, we have understood that a new community space, workshops for local creative businesses and a neighbourhood supermarket would have a real and positive impact locally. We have therefore ensured that our plans incorporate these ideas, to hopefully make them a reality,” he added.
The developer said the ’maker spaces’ – mainly fronting on to Alfred Street - have been included in response to the Old Market Community Association and local businesses, which report a shortfall in workspaces that suit these local creative businesses that are so important to the area’s vibrancy.
“There would be a significant increase in the number of people employed on the site,” said a spokesperson for the developer. “Currently there are 20-25 people employed across the whole site. The new development would create more than 50 new jobs, both directly employed by Dominus Real Estate and via the proposed maker spaces, supermarket and other active ground floor uses. This will greatly improve the site’s existing employment provision.
“A community space – facing Kingsland Road Bridge – would be available for a range of community uses. Dominus Real Estate has been actively engaging with local community groups to use the space for education, particularly to support literacy and numeracy for local children and adults whose first language is not English. A key goal is to get students involved in this teaching, and in doing so, provide a real opportunity to authentically bring local residents and students together,” he added.
Read more about Temple Quarter:
Massive Silverthorne Lane development of homes and school given green light
Govt finally gives missing £95m to kickstart Temple Quarter regeneration
Chinese food wholesaler behind Temple Meads could become hundreds of student flats
Temple Island revamp deal finalised for 550 homes, hotel and offices
Deliveroo opens its first Bristol delivery store in partnership with Morrisons
Empty land behind Temple Meads station could become two hotels and 108 flats
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