36 community-led homes approved in Lawrence Weston

Plans for 36 homes and a “heart space” co-designed by the community in north-west Bristol have been approved unanimously against officers’ recommendation.

Ambition Lawrence Weston (ALW) residents’ group and United Communities housing association were granted permission despite the development breaching planning policy meant to protect grass verges from being built on.

The proposed layout of the Bristol City Council-owned site at Astry Close, where 16 postwar semi-detached houses were bulldozed in 2012 after suffering “concrete cancer”, is also “overcrowded” with the impact on privacy for new and existing householders deemed “too severe”.

But development control committee members gave consent by 8-0 votes after hearing the community backed the proposals with “no opposition at all” and that neighbours “hated” the grass verges because they were used for parking and littering.

34 of the 36 homes – comprising 32 houses and four flats – will be affordable, while a terraced “heart space” in the middle would have steps alongside a children’s slide and areas for playing and socialising.

A planning officer told the meeting on Thursday, April 15, that this would be more of a “nuisance” for the residents in the new homes fronting onto it and not easily accessible.

He said a compromise with the applicants on the overall design would have been acceptable but, despite draft plans being drawn up, it was “regrettable” that none were formally submitted.

“The concern is the development of these grass verges is out of character with the neighbourhood and housing will appear obtrusive,” he said. “The proposal falls short of some very fundamental planning principles. The harm outweighs the benefits.”

Head of development management Gary Collins said: “While the council has granted permission for high density developments in the past, I don’t think we’ve approved one where there has been this extent of overlooking and overcrowding between individual dwellings.

“I can’t recall a similar, tight amenity space at the heart of a development that’s been given permission before.”

But Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward councillors Jo Sergeant and Don Alexander spoke in favour of the “extremely important project”.

The planned “heart space” at Astry Close. Image: Ambition Lawrence Weston/United Communities

Councillor Sergeant said: “There is no opposition to this at all. People have had the say about the homes they can live in.

“Where there might not be as much community space, there will be lots of community spirit to make up for that. There are grass verges all over Lawrence Weston that are poorly managed and have become mini-quagmires.”

ALW board member Jamie Siggers said: “The verges are typically poorly maintained, muddy from car parking and covered in litter. They are not safe, suitable or pleasant for play or socialising and there is almost no ecological value.

“These community-led designs aren’t getting rid of the verges, they are improving them by reducing them to a manageable scale.”

Councillor Fabian Breckels said: “It’s clear that residents find the verges a nuisance, so we need to listen to them rather than protect something they want to reinvent. I like the design of the houses. I love the fact some of the houses have got split-level gardens.

“Ultimately I believe in listening to people and working with communities rather than dictating what they can and cannot have.

“This has been drawn up by the community, they all support it, a lot of them want to live on the new site and it’s not the job of the council to get in the way.”

The proposed 36-home development at Astry Close in Lawrence Weston. Image: Ambition Lawrence Weston/United Communities

The site currently. Photo: Bristol City Council

Councillor Richard Eddy said: “There is a huge amount of gain here which all three councillors cross-party for the ward and the local community support.”

Councillor Chris Jackson said: “This is an exemplar for how to communicate with the local community. I understand there are some issues with the play area but the benefits far outweigh the negatives.”

Councillor Olly Mead said many neighbourhood development plans (NDPs) were aimed at preventing development in posh villages.

“So when we looked at the Lawrence Weston NDP it was a beautiful thing to behold – it was so positive and forward looking,” he said.

“It looks like the kind of place where kids could make friends, there are outdoor pockets of space in back gardens and there is a lot more to commend it than normal.”

Astry Close will be altered to allow one-way through-traffic to Goodring Hill via a new T-junction, and there will be 48 car parking spaces.

Members granted permission delegating conditions to officers, to include protecting an oak tree.

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main image: Ambition Lawrence Weston/United Communities

Read more: Ward profiles 2021: Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston – ‘It has its ups and downs’