Protected trees causing cracks at Bristol college building could be felled

A row of protected trees causing cracks in study rooms at the City of Bristol College could be felled under new plans recently submitted. Each week Bristol City Council receives dozens of planning applications seeking permission for a whole range of developments.

Over the past seven days, those applications also included a bakery hoping to open earlier than currently allowed, and a large house in multiple occupation (HMO). Here’s this week’s round-up of notable planning applications submitted to the council.

Every week dozens are validated by the local authority and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications – whether in support or objection.

The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Bristol City Council’s website.

Trees causing cracks

A row of trees at the City of Bristol College’s site in Ashley Downcould be chopped down because they are causing “substantial” cracks to an adjacent building. The eight maples at College Road are subject to a tree preservation order.

But a report by structural engineers says the damage to interior walls and stone work on the outside of the large, single-storey study block can be repaired and the problems resolved by removing them. It said: “This part of the building is susceptible to settlement movement.

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“In dry weather, the trees will reduce the moisture content in the clay soil and cause it to shrink under and around the foundation.” An alternative solution, to install a root barrier underground, is not possible because of services in the road.

Bakery hours

A bakery set to open on College Green is asking for permission to open earlier. GAIL’s wants to move into a vacant former shop and trade from 7am but a condition of planning consent granted in 2021 for 31 student studio flats and three ground-floor commercial units currently restricts this to 8am.

Planning agents have applied to vary the condition. In a letter to the council, they said: “The proposed extension of one hour to the morning opening hours will bring the site in line with both trading hours at GAIL’s bakeries nationwide and align them with other operators on College Green, including Costa, who open from 6.30am Monday to Saturday, and Pipp & Co Cafe, who open from 7am Monday to Saturday.

“The proposed additional hour will not give rise to any significant amenity impacts.”

Large HMO

A six-bedroom shared house in Horfield could be converted into a seven-bed HMO. The end-of-terrace house in Wellington Hill West would be reconfigured internally after the council refused permission for a two-storey side extension to create a nine-bed HMO last month.

In planning documents, the agents said: “As part of the assessment of this application, Bristol City Council confirmed that the increase in size of the existing HMO was acceptable in principle, with the reason for refusal relating solely to the design of the extension. Consequently, the proposed extension has been removed from the application proposals.”

The number of cycle spaces would increase from zero to seven and car parking spaces doubled from two to four.