News / Spike island
Caravan club set to close before site redeveloped for homes
The caravan club at Baltic Wharf looks likely to close before the height of the summer.
It has been a popular spot for caravaners since opening in 1978 on the site of former timber yards.
The land next to the Cottage pub has been earmarked for housing for several years with a planning application granted unanimously in April 2024 for 166 flats.
The Baltic Wharf campsite is described as “a waterside haven located right in the heart of Bristol’s beautifully re-developed dockland and close to the city centre”.
On the Caravan & Motorhome Club’s online booking page, it says that their Baltic Wharf club is closed from June 25:
Bristol24/7 asked the Caravan & Motorhome Club whether the closed bookings means the end of the site.
A spokesperson said: “We have nothing further to add at this time, as and when there is new information we will inform Club members accordingly.”
Because the land on Spike Island was previously a timber yard, the caravan park is considered to be a brownfield site – photo: Martin Booth
Buildings will be up to six storeys high at the new Baltic Wharf development, with the scheme overlooking the Floating Harbour also including two commercial units at ground level, as well as new public spaces.
The planning application was granted unanimously by councillors despite a number of issues being raised including the risk of flooding, with the Environment Agency initially against the scheme but later removing their objections.
A school was one of the options for the site which is considered to be brownfield because of its former use as a timber yard.
The housing on Baltic Wharf was originally due to be a scheme built by the Bristol City Council-owned Goram Homes but in September 2024, the council pulled out of the project saying they could no longer afford it.
The planned Baltic Wharf development features 166 flats on the site of the caravan park – photo: Goram Homes
Main photo: Martin Booth
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