Changes made to plans for new £85million retirement complex at former Westbury Park school site

The plans had faced strong opposition locally when presented in November
Sophie Wills
By Sophie Wills
Published 14th Mar 2022, 17:54 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2022, 17:59 BST
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Updated plans to build a retirement complex in Westbury Park, on the site of the former St Christopher’s School, have been lodged with Bristol City Council.

The £85 million development would see 122 new ‘extra care’ homes built on St Christopher’s Square, a five-acre site bordering the Downs.

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The FORE Partnership, which currently own the site, want to convert some of the Victorian villas facing the Downs such as the North Lodge and Grace House, while building a collection of two-storey cottages and four multi-storey apartment blocks.

The developers say they have made changes after members of the local community opposed them during a consultation last year.

An artist’s impression of what the new development in Westbury Park could look like.An artist’s impression of what the new development in Westbury Park could look like.
An artist’s impression of what the new development in Westbury Park could look like.

Members of the St Christopher’s Action Group branded the plans ‘entirely inappropriate’.

The group raised concerns that the development would increase congestion and cause ‘huge environmental destruction’ due to the amount of trees that would have to be chopped down to make way for the new apartment blocks, which would already be ‘far too high’.

An aerial view of the site.An aerial view of the site.
An aerial view of the site.
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Announcing that the plans had been submitted today (March 14), the FORE Partnership said it had moved to address the feedback it had received and made a number of amendments to its plans.

These included reducing height of some of the buildings, moving the tallest element of the proposals to the centre of the site, and pulling other buildings away from the site boundary to minimise the impact of the development on existing neighbouring properties.

The development will feature a collection of two-storey cottages and four-storey apartment blocks.The development will feature a collection of two-storey cottages and four-storey apartment blocks.
The development will feature a collection of two-storey cottages and four-storey apartment blocks.

The firm said that 50 extra trees will also be planted at the site.

It would also be net zero carbon in operation and created using low carbon construction techniques and materials.

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Basil Demeroutis, managing partner at FORE, said: “As the first net zero carbon later living development for Bristol and one of the first in the UK, St Christopher’s Square will pave the way for a new generation of ultra-sustainable, later living communities for older people across the country.”

The plans also include a public café, wellness centre and village hall.

St Christopher’s Action Group has been approached for comment on the changes.

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