Product category:
Housing, Regeneration and Developments
News Release from: Places for People | Subject: St Pauls scheme
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 May 2007
St Pauls scheme soars skywards in
Bristol
Bristol's tallest-ever building, an environmentally-friendly 40-storey tower development, could become the spectacular symbol of urban regeneration in the St Paul's area of the city.
The soaring 600ft high structure would become a visually striking landmark at the M32 entrance to the city centre It would be built using state-of-the-art "green" technology and design principles in support of Bristol's pledge, launched in March, to be recognised as the leading green city in the UK
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 6 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The trail-blazing tower, which could contain homes, offices or a mixture of both, is a dramatic feature of one of three options to redevelop some seven acres of land in St Paul's which could attract up to GBP300 million worth of investment to the inner city area.
Developer PG Enterprises, part of Bristol's award-winning PG Group, and Places for People, the country's biggest property management and development group, have recently joined forces for the far-reaching Dove Lane project.
The consortium's vision is for a comprehensive mixture of residential, retail and employment uses, together with community facilities, that meets the needs both of the city and St Paul's and which create a vibrant "gateway" to Bristol.
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It hopes to generate around 1,000 jobs and provide about 700 new homes, ranging from one to three-bedroom flats and including affordable and sheltered accommodation, about 30 shops, a doctors' surgery, day nursery, place of worship, community hall, public open space, outdoor performance area, open-air market, public art and possibly a 100-bedroom hotel.
Particular attention will be given to how the local community can benefit from the proposals.The consortium has drawn up three development options which will be put before the public at two exhibitions at the St Paul's Family and Learning Centre in Grosvenor Road.
They are being held on May 26 and June 2 and will be open on both days from 10am to 4.30pm.
The events will be attended by representatives from the consortium and their professional advisers who will answer questions and listen to people's views.
In addition, details of the options are contained in leaflets which are being distributed to around 6,500 homes and businesses in the area.
The options reflect views obtained during a series of public consultations undertaken by Bristol City Council, the local community and the consortium itself over the past 18 months, including two public exhibitions held in St Paul's last February.
PG Enterprises' project director, Ian Walker, said: "This is the next step in the process of consultation with all stakeholders and we are keenly awaiting the response that these proposals will prompt".
"All comments thus far have been recognised and we are starting to refine ideas into an exciting development that reflects everybody's hopes and aspirations".
Alistair Millington, Places for People's South West development director, said: "The idea of a tall building will grab the headlines, but the real story is how this scheme can link St Paul's to the city centre and all the benefits that it can bring to local residents.
"This development will open up new streets as well as creating homes, jobs and other facilities".
"The community has been working hard to improve the neighbourhood in recent years, so it's exciting to have an opportunity like this in the area".
All three options contain proposals to build about 753,000 square feet net of homes, offices and businesses, including start-up units, together with the provision of parking and outdoor facilities.
However, the amount of new public open space within the project site varies in each option, with the largest amount being in the one which includes the tower.
* Option A would see a development with buildings of between four and 10 storeys on 50 per cent of the site.
With roads, parking, access and private space taking up a further 47 per cent.
* Option B contains buildings of between four and 14 storeys on 45 per cent of the site and roads, parking, access and private space occupying a similar amount of space.
This would leave 10 per cent of the site, about two fifths of a football field, which could be used for a combined play area, park and a small outdoor market.
* Option C contains buildings ranging from four to 40 storeys on only 30 per cent of the site.
Roads, parking, access and private space would account for 40 per cent, leaving 30 per cent - about the size of one-and-a-quarter football pitches - for public open space.
This would be enough for a generous play area, park, outdoor market and an open-air performance area for drama, music and community events.
The MP for St Paul's, Stephen Williams (Lib Dem, Bristol West), said: "The presentation of these options is a crucial stage in this exciting development of St Paul's".
"We have a real opportunity to transform the area to achieve a vibrant mix of new residents and businesses.
The proposal for a tower block will obviously need to be carefully considered, given that we have just demolished the unloved Tollgate House just opposite St Paul's".
"But I think tall buildings, if they are well designed, can enhance the city-scape".
"I will be attending the public consultation session and I urge everyone to have their say".
The Dove Lane scheme is being co-ordinated by RPS, of Aztec West, Bristol, specialists in design, planning and project management.
Dr Colin Bloch, a director of RPS, said: "We have been conducting a pan-European competition to secure an architect to work with our own architects on the site and particularly to make a contribution in terms of the latest thinking on 'green' buildings.
"A shortlist has been drawn up and we expect to confirm an appointment shortly".
Commenting on the tower, Dr Bloch added: "Although it would be the tallest building in Bristol, we would also hope it would be the most sustainable and architecturally exciting feature of this gateway site to a prospering city which has pledged itself to become the greenest in Britain".
"This would enable St Paul's to lead the way for Bristol to achieve that goal and liberate generous space for investment in community open space and facilities".
Views obtained during the two forthcoming public exhibitions will be analysed and taken on board as the project progresses.
There will also be further public consultation in the coming months before a planning application is submitted to Bristol City Council.
This should be early in 2008.
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