News / redevelopment
New plans to redevelop historic former school
Fresh plans have been unveiled to redevelop a historic former school site which has been at the centre of a long-running planning battle.
The latest proposals for St Christopher’s School in Westbury Park are for 40 townhouses and the conversion of five existing villas into a mix of houses and flats.
The scheme comes around two and a half years after Bristol City Council rejected plans to turn the area into a “luxury” retirement village.
The site has since been acquired by Square Bay, a London-based firm working with Acorn Property Group, also developers for the old Bristol Zoo Gardens, to turn the plot overlooking the Downs into housing.
They promise “green, open space”, new pedestrian routes and that they will retain “most of the existing mature trees” while felling trees of “lower visual, ecological or arboricultural value” such as cypresses and an ash.
The proposed new buildings would consist of three-storey semi-detached and terraced houses.
Developers say they will be seeking the highest number of parking spaces Bristol City Council’s maximum parking level policy will allow.
Buildings built between the 1960s and the 2000s are set to be removed while the grade II-listed Grace House will be turned into apartments and wooded area close by kept.
St Christopher’s School was in 2023 designated as an Asset of Community Value – photo: Square Bay
St Christopher’s School, a residential Steiner school, opened in 1945 but has been largely closed since 2019 after being declared “economically unviable”.
It provided around 50 places for pupils with complex educational needs and disabilities.
In August 2023, councillors refused a previous application to convert the site into “extra care” apartments. Concerns included overdevelopment, poor access to daylight and potential harm to trees and wildlife.
Local residents also raised issues about a lack of affordable housing, the loss of specialist SEND provision and increased parking pressure on surrounding streets.
Addressing SEND provision, the new developers said they would not offering any form of school but are “exploring” options such as holiday accommodation designed to meet SEND needs or sensory gardens.
Developers said they “committed to working respectfully with the community to agree a scheme that seeks to align with the community briefs” – image: Square Bay
A spokesperson for Square Bay said: “This is a very special – but also challenging – site which will require a very sensitive and careful redevelopment.
“We are seeking to work collaboratively with the community, including using the community’s planning ‘briefs’ as the starting point for our design.
“We have already engaged with local groups and representatives. But we want to hear from all neighbours and the wider community to ensure we get this right.
“We do not expect all residents to share the same priorities, but are committed to finding the most supportable, and viable, proposal.
“We are holding two community events. The first is to seek feedback on our initial proposal.
“The second – to be held in the summer – will be to explain how that feedback has shaped our detailed proposals.”
Square Bay and Acorn Property Group are holding an initial consultation event on May 7 at St Alban’s Church in Westbury Park from 12.30pm to 7.30pm.
For more information, visit stchristophersredevelopment.co.uk/our-approach
Main image: Google Earth
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