News / Development
Zoo counts cost of legal fight
Bristol Zoological Society has been forced to make a number of redundancies and cut costs “dramatically” during a protracted legal fight over whether new homes should be able to be built on their former site in Clifton.
It comes as a legal challenge brought by Save Bristol Gardens Alliance has been dismissed by a judge who ruled that Bristol City Council officers and councillors correctly followed all processes when approving the planning application.
A Save Bristol Gardens Alliance spokesperson called the judge’s decision “disappointing news” and promised that it will “not by any means (be) the end of the opposition to this dreadful plan”.
Bristol Zoological Society has so far spent more than £300,000 responding to campaigners’ lawyers since their plans to build 196 new homes on the old zoo site were approved by Bristol City Council in April 2023.
Bristol Zoological Society chief executive, Dr Justin Morris, said he is “really pleased” with the decision.
Morris said: “We have always been confident in our plans for Bristol Zoo Gardens, which will see the gardens accessible for free and bring much-needed housing to Bristol.
“However, we cannot state clearly enough, the impact and financial toll of these legal challenges and campaigns.
“In recent years we have faced a concerted campaign by individuals who have purposefully delayed the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens, preventing us from accessing the proceeds and harming our charity and work.”
Morris added: “Not only have we faced hugely expensive legal challenges including the Judicial Review, we have had to defend our charity from the spread of misleading, factually incorrect and alarmist information about the plans for the old zoo – when in fact, the previously private space will be open to the public, for free, for the first time in its history.
“We hope today’s judgment brings an end to the campaign and allows our charity to make best use of its funds.
“Further attempts by campaigners in Clifton to delay the sale of the old zoo will prevent any further development of Bristol Zoo Project and further reduce our ability to invest in conservation.”
The plans for the former zoo site in Clifton include building 196 new homes – image: Bristol Zoological Society
The spokesperson for Save Bristol Gardens Alliance said: “This is of course disappointing news, but not by any means the end of the opposition to this dreadful plan.
“Today’s Judicial Review decision turned on the lawfulness of the advice planners gave to Bristol’s planning committee ahead of its decision to grant planning permission.
“It was not a hearing on the merits of the proposed development. Had it been, we have little doubt that the court would have blocked the Zoo’s planning permission outright.
“The proposal to destroy the former Clifton Zoo site with truly ugly high rise flats, car parking and a service road continues to be almost universally opposed.
“The proposed destruction of heritage trees, gardens and biodiversity would simply not be allowed if the planning application was being made today, as the rules on biodiversity net gain and emitted carbon have tightened since the application was first made.
“In spite of the Society’s spin to the contrary, it is entirely probable that the ‘assurances’ of free public access to what remains post-development will end after a matter of a few years, and Bristol will be left with a gated private development.
“This would be a tragic end to 200 years of beauty, heritage and history and is why our opposition will continue.
“We would like to record our huge gratitude and sincerest thanks to the many hundreds of Bristolians who so generously donated towards the costs of the Judicial Review for their confidence and continued support.
“We may have lost the day, but together we will save the Gardens.”
Main photo: Bristol Zoo Gardens
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