Latest news with #SaveBristolGardensAlliance
BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Review into plans to redevelop Bristol zoo site
Judicial review into zoo redevelopment begins 10 minutes ago Share Save Joe Skirkowski BBC News, Bristol Share Save PA Media The site has been vacant since the zoo closed in 2022 A review has begun looking at a council's decision to approve plans to redevelop the site of a former zoo. Bristol City Council approved the plans to build 196 homes, a café, playground and conservation hub on Bristol Zoo's Clifton site after it closed in 2022. A group of residents have opposed the plans - citing concerns over a potential loss of bio-diversity and green space - and fears that public access to the site's historic gardens are not guaranteed. "We really need spaces where people can enjoy and take a respite from the city and there are vanishingly few of them," said Carrie Sage, founder of Save Bristol Gardens Alliance. "It's completely the wrong plan for the wrong site and many trees will be cut down as a result as they add car parking and a road through the gardens as a result," she added. "The importance of green spaces in cities will become ever more relevant in the years to come and having a 12 acre walled garden with so many amazing trees and herbaceous borders is just wrong," said fellow member of Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, Bill Ray. Under the current proposals - 80 of the 218 trees currently on the site would be removed - with 44 of those replanted and 470 new ones planted. Bristol Zoo originally opened in 1836 and was one of the oldest in the world at the time of closing in September 2022. The zoo maintains that it needed to relocate to a larger site on the outskirts of the city to meet modern standards and enable it to care for larger animals. "It was clear that it wasn't fit for purpose and when you look at the new Bristol Zoo Project, not only is it much larger than the Clifton site but its also got a lovely variety of different habitats which are more suitable for the different animals," said Dr Justin Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoo Project. They also state that the new development would allow access to the site's gardens for free for the first time and say that this is legally binding. "We really wanted to ensure that the gardens continued to be a public space for the people of Bristol and that's something we're really proud of in the scheme that's been consented," said Dr Morris. "For the first time in its history, it's a space that people can go into for free. "That's guaranteed because it's enshrined in a legal contract called a section 106 agreement and any planning application has to be backed up by an agreement like that and the developer will have to abide by those terms," he added. The review into the planning application will conclude on 7 May but a result may not be immediately available. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Campaigners hope to stop ex-zoo plan for 196 homes
Campaigners are to hold a meeting in the hope of saving the former Bristol Zoo site from being redeveloped into 196 new homes with public access to the gardens for free. The homes were set to be built at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site, but an application for a judicial review of Bristol City Council's decision to approve the scheme has been submitted. The campaigners, from Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, said they were not satisfied public access to the gardens would be permanently guaranteed. Justin Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoological Society, said they had consulted extensively with the public and it was "categorically not the case" that free public access to the gardens was not protected. The planning proposal includes 196 new homes, of which 20% would be affordable, a new public park that would see the gardens accessible for free, a new cafe, playground and conservation hub. "They've got no mechanism for making sure it does happen," said Alastair Sawday, member of the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance. "So if you put in place permanent public access, in perpetuity, you have to have the means to support it and they haven't. "They can't do that. So the chances are, the developer will come along and find life's getting rather expensive, and bit by bit, they'll erode it." In 2022, Bristol Zoo moved to its new home in north Bristol. The Bristol Zoological Society said the proceeds of its sale would go towards the new site's expansion. Mr Morris said the decision to close and sell the site had been made in 2020. "It's categorically not the case that public access to the gardens, which will be free to access for the first time in their history, is not protected," he said. "It is protected and for any development of the site to take place, the gardens will need to be publicly accessible. " Save Bristol Gardens Alliance was given permission by the High Court last October to challenge the plans and they expect a hearing in May. The campaign group said they were also concerned about the removal of heritage trees. About 80 of 218 trees on the site would be removed. Of those being removed, 44 would be replanted and 470 new trees would be planted. "Bristol Zoo Garden's site has been important to Bristol for nearly 200 years," said Carrie Sage, founder and director of the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance. "It's the wrong development in the wrong place and that's why we keep pushing to overturn the planning permission." "And, if we are successful [at the judicial review], that will overturn the planning permission and force a complete rethink for this site." She added: "And one which we will really welcome, because there is a much better solution for Bristol here." A public meeting will be held at Christ Church in Clifton on Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00 GMT. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Homes plan for former Bristol Zoo site on hold Homes will be built on former Bristol Zoo site Homes plan at former zoo site backed by government Bristol Zoo Project
BBC News
29-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bristol Zoo: Campaigners hope to stop plan for 196 homes
Campaigners are to hold a meeting in the hope of saving the former Bristol Zoo site from being redeveloped into 196 new homes with public access to the gardens for homes were set to be built at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site, but an application for a judicial review of Bristol City Council's decision to approve the scheme has been campaigners, from Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, said they were not satisfied public access to the gardens would be permanently Morris, CEO of Bristol Zoological Society, said they had consulted extensively with the public and it was "categorically not the case" that free public access to the gardens was not protected. The planning proposal includes 196 new homes, of which 20% would be affordable, a new public park that would see the gardens accessible for free, a new cafe, playground and conservation hub. "They've got no mechanism for making sure it does happen," said Alastair Sawday, member of the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance."So if you put in place permanent public access, in perpetuity, you have to have the means to support it and they haven't."They can't do that. So the chances are, the developer will come along and find life's getting rather expensive, and bit by bit, they'll erode it."In 2022, Bristol Zoo moved to its new home in north Bristol. The Bristol Zoological Society said the proceeds of its sale would go towards the new site's expansion. Mr Morris said the decision to close and sell the site had been made in 2020."It's categorically not the case that public access to the gardens, which will be free to access for the first time in their history, is not protected," he said."It is protected and for any development of the site to take place, the gardens will need to be publicly accessible. " Save Bristol Gardens Alliance was given permission by the High Court last October to challenge the plans and they expect a hearing in May. The campaign group said they were also concerned about the removal of heritage 80 of 218 trees on the site would be removed. Of those being removed, 44 would be replanted and 470 new trees would be planted."Bristol Zoo Garden's site has been important to Bristol for nearly 200 years," said Carrie Sage, founder and director of the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance."It's the wrong development in the wrong place and that's why we keep pushing to overturn the planning permission.""And, if we are successful [at the judicial review], that will overturn the planning permission and force a complete rethink for this site."She added: "And one which we will really welcome, because there is a much better solution for Bristol here."A public meeting will be held at Christ Church in Clifton on Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00 GMT.
