PREWETT STREET PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Introduction
Welcome to the Public Consultation and thank you for visiting this website to view the proposals by Creswicke Developments Ltd to deliver high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation on a brownfield site adjacent to Prewett Street in Redcliffe, just to the south east of Bristol’s City Centre. The application will also safeguard the adjacent Council owned garage site for a future planning application for affordable housing.
The proposed site currently contains two derelict buildings and presents a valuable opportunity to support the ongoing regeneration of the Redcliffe area. The proposals by Creswicke Developments Ltd aim to enhance the local streetscape of this part of Redcliffe and make a positive contribution to the surrounding environment.
As a project team, we recognise that public consultation is a vital part of the planning process, and Creswicke Developments Ltd are committed to ensuring local voices are heard and therefore your feedback will help shape and refine the proposals before a planning application is submitted to Bristol City Council.
The applicant has already presented the scheme to the Bristol Design Review Panel at Design West and we are now keen to hear your thoughts as local residents, businesses and stakeholders in the local area.
Proposed Application Site
Proposed Site Plan
Site Location and Connectivity
Nestled in the heart of Redcliffe, the site benefits from a vibrant and evolving neighbourhood just south east of Bristol’s city centre. Redcliffe is framed by two key waterways, the Floating Harbour to the north and the River Avon to the west.
The surrounding area of Redcliffe offers a rich mix of architecture and character. The DoubleTree Hilton Hotel is located close by to the north, while directly opposite the site across Prewett Street is the Grade II listed Glass House, now a popular restaurant. To the west stands Proctor House, a 1960s residential block, while to the east is Corinthian Court, a building constructed in the 1990’s and Broughton House, a residential tower dating back to the 1970s.
The site is currently home to a series of derelict buildings including the former Bell Public House and Taviner’s Auction Rooms. These buildings have suffered decades of neglect and unsympathetic 20th-century alterations with dilapidated structures remaining today. The proposed redevelopment site sits on the edge of the Redcliffe Conservation Area and its redevelopment represents an opportunity to sensitively enhance the area’s heritage and visual appeal.
In terms of the site’s wider connectivity with Bristol, the location could not be better suited for sustainable urban living. The site is just a 10 minute walk from Temple Meads railway station and around 20 minutes from Bristol Bus Station, offering regional and national transport links well within reach of the site. Cabot Circus, which is Bristol’s main shopping and leisure hub is also within easy walking distance.
The area is extremely well connected by bus routes, with frequent services running to the University of the West of England, Avonmouth, Bath, and Bristol Airport. A number of safe cycling routes also connect the site to the remaining parts of Bristol, including the Temple Meads Enterprise Campus, which is rapidly emerging as a major centre for its innovation and education appeal. This new major student hub will only be a circa ten minute walk from the application site, meaning prospective students will be be able to easily access the campus on foot and by other sustainable forms of transport.
The proposed site for high quality student accommodation follows Bristol’s ambition for a greener, less car-dependent future and therefore the development will be car-free which is made possible by the excellent public transport options, its central location, and the existing residents’ parking zone. Prior to move in and move out, welcome packs will be distributed electronically to all students. The welcome packs will include details of the site, its operations and local travel information. It will provide details of a specific time slot to arrive. The same process will be in operation on move out days. It is expected that vehicles will utilise a designated loading bay at the front of the development. Therefore, a managed system is proposed whereby students are allocated a timeslot (typically 30 minutes) to load/unload.
Site Photographs
Proposed Development
The overarching vision for this underused brownfield site is to deliver 160 high-quality student bedspaces through the creation of modern, purpose-built accommodation designed specifically for student living. The development will provide a mix of studio apartments and cluster flats, offering a variety of living arrangements to suit different needs and budgets.
The proposed building will be 8 storeys in total, ranging from 5 storeys fronting Prewett Street to reflect the existing street character and scale. The upper 2 storeys will be set back, helping to reduce the visual impact of the building and create a more refined architectural form. A lower ground floor is also included within the design, responding to the natural changes in site levels.
The main entrance will be located on Prewett Street, providing easy access for residents and visitors. At ground floor level, the scheme includes dedicated amenity space that will help to activate the street frontage which will create a more welcoming and engaging environment for passers-by and will contribute positively to the public realm.
The proposed development is not only designed to meet the growing demand for student accommodation in Bristol but also to enhance the character of the Redcliffe area through thoughtful design, high-quality materials, and improved streetscape presence.
At present the site is dominated by hard landscaping and so the the scheme will introduce a mix of soft and hard landscaping to provide an attractive, well designed and maintained outdoor space and public realm for both students and residents locally. The proposed building will have an active frontage onto Prewett Street, making it feel more inviting, lively and secure. The active frontage will be designed to make the development and its users engage with the street and public realm which is currently lacking in this area.
The proposal also safeguards the Council owned garage site for a future planning application for affordable homes. This application will be submitted at a later date, although careful attention has been given to the design of the student development to ensure that it does not compromise the development potential of the Council’s land.
Proposed North West Elevation
Proposed South East Elevation
Proposed South West Elevation
Landscaped Courtyard Concept
Computer Generated Images showing what the Proposed Development would look like!
Benefits of the Development
This thoughtfully designed, high quality development will transform a long derelict brownfield site into vibrant purpose-built student accommodation, helping to meet Bristol’s growing student housing needs in a sustainable and sensitive way. The site is located in a highly accessible and central part of Bristol and will be car-free, encouraging active travel and reducing reliance on private vehicles. The proposed scheme has been design led and will comprise a low energy building using a fabric-first approach, with integrated biodiversity enhancements and high-quality amenity spaces that promote wellbeing for future occupiers.
The proposals will also support the local economy, with students contributing over £1.5m per year in spending, while also reducing pressure on local housing stock by easing demand for HMOs and enabling their release back to traditional housing. With active ground floor frontages, the scheme will improve the streetscape along Prewett Street and contribute positively to the regeneration of Redcliffe.
Feedback
We would like to hear your thoughts on the proposed scheme. Your feedback will help inform the next stage of our design before we submit a planning application to Bristol City Council. Once this application has been submitted, you will be able to view the technical submission and full suite of architectural drawings in more detail.
Please send your comments to Prewettstreetconsultation@crossmangroup.co.uk
Thank you,
Crossman Planning Consultancy