News / Whitchurch
New ‘meanwhile site’ to be created on former sports centre
Sixty pitches for van dwellers will be created on land in south Bristol.
It is the latest ‘meanwhile site’ organised by Bristol City Council and comes just days after van dwellers on the Downs were issued with an eviction notice.
The pitches will be arranged across three subdivided plots on what was previously Whitchurch Sports Centre, which closed in 2021 and was demolished in 2024 following a serious fire the previous year.
The land off Bamfield in Whitchurch belongs to council-owned housing company Goram Homes who have long-term plans to build on the site, with the meanwhile use granted for three years.
Labour councillor Kye Dudd asked at a planning meeting on Wednesday whether these three years could become permanent, expressing his concern that Goram Homes “has no incentive” to develop the site for housing.
“I see nothing in this application that this site won’t still be here after three years,” said Dudd, adding that he still sees the land as an “appropriate site” to house van dwellers.
Tory councillor Richard Eddy was in favour of the scheme, saying the creation of meanwhile sites with running water and toilet facilities “is the only way to treat people in a civilised way”.
“This seems an appropriate site,” Eddy said.
The land in Whitchurch is a “textbook definition of a brownfield site” added Green councillor Toby Wells.
Zoe Peat said she was “very happy” with the plans but echoed Dudd’s fears.
“My concern is that meanwhile sites will become a mainstay within our city because not enough people are able to find permanent housing,” Peat said.
A council officer said there would be a “minor impact” on local residents but this will be limited because “thorough mitigation has been applied throughout”.
Despite receiving 183 public objections, the application was passed by a unanimous vote of councillors.
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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