A major project to build 706 student bed spaces alongside new communal space on brownfield land has suffered another setback after a key planning document was rejected for the third time. The accommodation would be built on plot six of Silverthorne Lane in the centre of Bristol, behind Temple Meads Station.
The student accommodation, which is located within the Temple Quarter regeneration scheme, had planning permission granted in August 2023 after previous planning permission was amended following a change in plans. A total of 36 conditions were given for planning permission, of which 12 affect the pre-commencement of development.
Since planning permission was granted, half of the pre-commencement conditions have been approved and subsequently discharged. However, one key document has yet to be given approval from Bristol City Council, despite the document being submitted for a third time in August 2024.
The construction management plan (CMP) is a document that outlines how the construction will be made safe for pedestrians, how it will affect the roads nearby the project and what hours the work will be completed. It is almost usually the second condition when planning permission is given to a project.
In a decision dated Monday, September 30, the CMP was refused by the council due to “inadequate information” being submitted regarding traffic management during the construction phase of the development. The full decision said: “Inadequate information has been submitted in respect of traffic management during construction, and the submission does not appear to account for road closures in the area. Therefore, the condition cannot be discharged at this stage.”
It follows the CMP being refused for the same reasoning in August, where “inadequate information” was submitted. Prior to that decision, the CMP was originally refused in May due to “contradictory statements”.
The decision in May said: “The submitted construction management plan is unacceptable as it includes contradictory information, and references irrelevant policy documents. Therefore the condition is not discharged.”
The Temple Quarter regeneration aims to improve the area through a number of different developments. It includes improvements to Temple Meads Station and the new Eastern Entrance, the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus, which will open in 2026, and a number of new housing projects.
Want our best stories with fewer ads and alerts when the biggest news stories drop? Download our app on iPhone or Android.
A timeline of rejected conditions
The conditions, numbered from two to thirteen, need to be approved and discharged in order for the development to begin. In April, conditions six (for a sustainable drainage system), eleven (flood resilience measures) and thirteen (Landscape and Ecological Management Plan) were all approved.
A decision, dated May 1, refused four of five conditions that were applied for to be discharged by developers HG Construction. This would be the first time the CMP (listed as condition two) was refused.
Conditions three (a risk assessment for the foundation works), nine (flood emergency plan) and ten (local employment opportunities) were also refused. But condition eight, which refers to an arboricultural method statement (for work around or including trees), was approved and subsequently discharged.
A split decision was given for discharging condition seven (public art) on July 23. A timetable for delivery was not submitted for approval, but the art plans and strategy were approved, meaning a split decision was granted for the missing timetable.
On July 24, the CMP would be refused for the second time, but condition three was approved by the council. However, condition five (sample panels for relevant parts of the work) was given a split decision due to a lack of details regarding colours of bricks.
On August 22, condition nine was again refused by Bristol City Council as the plan “does not identify evacuation routes and details of safe refuge areas, and therefore is not currently adequate for the purposes of this condition”. Condition ten for local employment opportunities was approved after the plan was deemed adequate.
The latest decision, dated September 30, saw the CMP refused for the third time. Currently, a decision is pending for conditions four (detailed drawings including further information), five and nine.
The only other pre-commencement condition is condition twelve (an ecology report lifespan), which would only trigger if the development has not commenced prior to March 1, 2025 (18 months from permission being granted). If 18 months pass, an updated ecological survey would need to be submitted.
Want the latest Bristol breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.