Bristol planning chair defends U-turn decision on Broadwalk shopping centre

The chair of a planning committee in Bristol has defended a controversial decision to knock down a shopping centre in a letter to Michael Gove.

The housing secretary is considering whether to call in the decision for further scrutiny after weeks of controversy about the plans.

Conservative Councillor Richard Eddy, chair of the development control A committee at Bristol City Council, urged Mr Gove to not call in the plans and allow the development to go ahead without delay. He added the plans for Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle had many benefits.

His committee granted permission for the plans to build 850 homes on the site of the shopping centre in July, a few weeks after the same committee voted to refuse permission. The U-turn came after developers promised to include much more affordable housing.

Cllr Eddy said: “Councillors wrestled with the planning application over two meetings, totalling over four hours in debate length, before resolving to grant outline planning consent. Naturally, all reserved matters will need to be developed into a full planning application, a full consultation undertaken, and determination will be carried out in a public and transparent manner by a development control committee.

“Many of us were therefore dismayed to read in the local media over the last couple of days confirmation of correspondence sent by Baroness Scott of Bybrook stating that ministers were considering whether to call in this determination — and thus postpone, and possibly jeopardise, the regeneration and salvation of this once flagship shopping centre.”

The surprise U-turn has raised questions among critics of the plans, also known as the Redcatch Quarter. But one of the key initial concerns among the committee was the lack of affordable housing, only 80 homes, however the developers have since promised to work with housing associations to increase this number, assuaging concerns of some councillors.

Cllr Eddy added: “May I flag up some important benefits of this scheme. It provides a vital, perhaps the last, chance to save and retain a vital urban retail centre while boosting the associated prosperity and trade of the retail units in Wells Road, Knowle. An estimated £200 million of new investment is being pumped into the regeneration of Broadwalk Shopping Centre, and almost 600 new jobs are projected to be created.

“Up to 850 new homes will be created to help address Bristol’s housing crisis, and a significant amount of this affordable housing. This scheme includes important community benefits, such as library services, a new community cinema and enhanced GP services.

“Sadly, it is my conclusion that any misadvised ministerial call-in of this important determination could destroy forever the opportunity to provide a renaissance for the Broadwalk Shopping Centre, and play into the hands of misguided objectors to the scheme and unscrupulous Green Party politicians, whose love of media sound bites is greater than their concern for the interests of Bristol.”