News / Development
Unfinished tower block ‘should never have received planning approval’
A residents association has said that Bristol’s tallest unfinished building “should never have received planning approval”.
It comes as the company hoping to complete the scheme are asking Bristol City Council to vary or remove dozens of planning conditions for the site on Bath Road next to the River Avon.
In a letter to the council, Turley say the new application “seeks to address delivery challenges to ensure the scheme’s successful completion, providing much-needed affordable housing”.
is needed now More than ever
Planning permission for 152 new flats within the Boatyard, which includes a 17-storey tower, was granted in December 2019.
Construction started on the site of a former Esso garage next to Totterdown Bridge in May 2020 but the development remains only partially complete, with no work carried out since 2022 when the main contractor, Mid Group, entered administration.
One major change to the original development will see every flat be sold as 100 per cent “affordable housing” by housing association Clarion.
Alongside the prominent 17-storey tower, the complex also includes buildings of seven, six and three storeys, along with office space, while the main block will have an additional two basement floors for parking.
Turley’s letter adds: “The proposed changes to the scheme result in a development that is not substantially different from the approved in terms of its nature, scale and quantum therefore constituting a minor material amendment in accordance with Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act.
“Building upon the established principles of the consented scheme, the proposed amendments address critical delivery challenges, regularise essential design updates and ensure compliance with evolving regulations, to enable the successful completion of the project and unlock its wider associated benefits.”
The Boatyard development overlooks the River Avon next to Totterdown Bridge – image: Latimer
In their objection to the new planning application, Totterdown Residents Environmental & Social Action (TRESA) say that the application to vary 43 conditions “adds weight to our concerns that the original planning application should never have received planning approval”.
TRESA object to the loss of some windows and corner balconies for the flats, saying they are “concerned about the loss of natural light and the subsequent impact on the quality of life of residents from the loss of these windows”.
They add: “There was already insufficient outdoor space for this hyper-dense development, and this will be further reduced by replacing corner balconies with Juliette balconies which do not provide any outdoor space.
“Once again we are concerned about the quality of life of future residents.”
They “remain extremely concerned that the development does not meet fire safety standards required following the Grenfell disaster”.
“It may be that this will be permitted, since the development was under construction when the higher standards were introduced, but we are very concerned about the quality of life for residents who will be aware that their building is potentially unsafe in the event of a fire.”
TRESA also object to the removal of a proposed green roof on one of the blocks, questioning whether proposed mitigation measures such as planters and new trees on Bath Road “will provide viable green infrastructure for this hyper-dense, predominantly high-rise development”.
Keir Starmer, then leader of the opposition, and Marvin Rees, then Bristol mayor, visited the Boatyard housing development on Bath Road in 2021 – photo: Labour Party
Bristol Civic Society have also objected, saying they “accept the building was given planning permission despite being too tall for its location but we must object until further revisions are made”.
“The application is very complicated and is trying to resolve the planning conditions as well as updating the existing planning permission for the now fully affordable use proposed.
“The society welcomes Clarion Housing Property Development Services approach to amending the scheme to provide 100% affordable housing.
“It would be good to know how affordable the scheme will be in practice and what form of affordable it will take.”
But once again, fire safety is a “serious concern”; with their objection also noting the removal of the originally proposed green roof.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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