New owner of key car park in Stockwood will face fight to redevelop site

A community leader has warned the new owners of a car park in Stockwood that they will face strong opposition if they plan to develop the piece of land. On Wednesday (October 19), the 45-space car park in Harden Road was sold at an auction by agents Hollis Morgan for £65,000, well over the £50,000 guide price.

The piece of land is private, but has been used for decades as a car park for surrounding shops, doctor’s surgery and the school. Three years ago, plans for homes on the site were refused by Bristol City Council with a ‘detriminatal impact on car parking’ being one of the reasons for refusal.

But following the sale of the land, there are concerns locally that it might have attracted a ‘speculative’ developer eyeing up the site for housing. Stockwood councillor Graham Morris said any proposal for development on the land would face opposition.

He said: “I am concerned because I don’t have control over the future destiny of that land, and I worry planning decisions have recently been too much in the developer’s favour of late.

“But if they do put forward plans without an consultation or proper engagement with the community then we will be objecting because that car park is critical to the long-term success of the local shops. It also serves the library, doctor’s surgery and community school.”

Councillor Morris said he was disappointed that Bristol City Council would not purchase the land to safeguard its future as a car park. He said people in the estate had been using it for over 60 years.

Plans for four homes were approved by Bristol City council in 2012, but the time limit to build it in elapsed. In 2019, a similar proposal was submitted and refused over the standard of homes, impact on car parking and harm to the ‘local centre’.

The auction listing can be viewed here