News / Development
Plans approved to knock down Galleries shopping centre
Planning permission has been approved to knock down the Galleries and build a major mixed-use development which will include flats, offices and student accommodation.
The plans also contain ground floor restaurants and shops, and the pedestrianisation of Newgate next to Castle Park.
The shopping centre in Broadmead opened in 1991 but has struggled for many years, particularly since the opening in 2008 of Cabot Circus.
Many shops are currently empty and developers said the Galleries is now “obsolete” and outdated.
Deeley Freed now has the go-ahead from Bristol City Council to press on with the huge changes to the prime city centre site, including demolishing the car park.
Councillors on development control B committee at City Hall voted to approve permission on Wednesday.
The plans will see the Galleries shopping centre transformed into a mixed-use development including 450 flats, a 250-room hotel and up to 750 student beds – images: Deeley Freed and LaSalle Investment Management
Deeley Freed director, Max Freed, told councillors: “The Galleries has been struggling since well before the pandemic.
“It’s poorly designed and car parking covers 40 per cent of the site. It has long been obsolete. Our proposal would completely transform the site.
“There would still be shops and restaurants on the ground floor throughout the development, including new units facing outwards to Castle Park and Broadmead.
“Please support our proposal to kickstart Bristol city centre’s regeneration.”
The Galleries shopping centre opened in 1991 – photo: Martin Booth
Developers will reuse the basement and foundations of the existing shopping centre, and they say the new buildings will lead to a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
This is through a connection to the district heat network, as well as extensive solar panels on the roofs.
Broadmead Medical Centre and an assessment clinic for the Bristol Eye Hospital inside the Galleries will relocate elsewhere in Broadmead.
The developers will contribute £1.3m to help the NHS with the relocation.
Ninety of the 450 homes will also be classed as “affordable” with a hotel and music venue also included in the development plans.
The future of the site will see a 21-storey tower overlooking Castle Park – image: Deeley Freed
Sandra Fryer, of the Bristol Civic Society, welcomed the hundreds of new homes, but raised concerns about the height of the new buildings, the tallest of which will be 21 storeys.
Green councillor for Bristol Central ward, Sibusiso Tshabalala, also welcomed the development, noting the need for new homes and how the upgraded retail and restaurant space would keep the city centre vibrant.
Easton Green councillor, Jenny Bartle, added: “This building is younger than I am and I’m very young.
“We’re demolishing an awful lot of building that’s really quite new. I worry about the precedent that it sets.
“But I don’t think it’s within our broader policy because it’s not very green.
“Having said that, I think that it’s otherwise a very strong application and I do support it.”
Newgate will be pedestrianised as part of the scheme – photo: Martin Booth
The wider regeneration of Broadmead includes major changes to the road network.
The Horsefair and Penn Street would be completely pedestrianised, with buses and taxis diverted through Fairfax Street, which runs underneath the Galleries.
The committee voted unanimously to approve planning permission.
Some details of the scheme will still need to be worked out and will return to the committee at a later date for approval.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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