One of South Bristol’s most prominent and long-standing eyesore sites is finally going to be demolished and almost 100 affordable homes could be built in its place in fresh plans that could end the saga.
The John Peer site on the Bath Road in Brislington has been empty and falling apart for more than a decade now, but plans to redevelop it have never come to fruition.
Now, the site’s owners SNG – the new name for Sovereign Housing Association – are about to unveil a new set of plans to demolish the building and create 91 new homes, which will be a mix of homes for social rent through the council’s HomeChoice system, and shared ownership.
SNG bought the site in 2016 and tried before to get planning permission. Back in 2021 and 2022, a scheme for 146 new homes was turned down by both councillors and a Government planning inspector, and since then, the building has fallen further into disrepair.
A public consultation on SNG’s new plans starts on Monday, September 30, and will run for a fortnight, and there will be a drop in exhibition for people to check out what is planned and have their say about it, at the Arnos Manor Hotel opposite the site, next Wednesday, October 2.
The council has given permission to SNG to demolish the building – and early works to prepare for that are already underway, with the main demolition taking place in October and November this year.
SNG said they hope to submit a formal planning application for their 91 homes project in the New Year.