Plan for ‘highest residential building’ in Totterdown set for approval

Plans for a five-storey block of flats are set to be approved on the site of a car wash in Totterdown.

Developers are planning to build 31 flats on the Bath Road next to the Thunderbolt pub and music venue, formerly known as the Turnpike Inn.

Bristol City Council’s development control committee is set to likely grant planning permission for the apartment block on Wednesday, May 1, after officers recommended approval.

Despite the scheme being scaled back from initial plans, some neighbours living nearby are still objecting to the application, writing to the council’s planning department with concerns.

Alice Barber, of Hillside Street, said: “The plans are still for a really big building. The neighbouring Thunderbolt is much smaller than this building, and on local streets homes seem to average three or four storeys high. If approved, this would become the highest residential building in Totterdown. There would be additional overlooking into our garden.”

Also objecting to the plans is Totterdown Residents Environmental & Social Action (TRESA), a local community group. The group wrote to the council to voice their concerns about the height of the development, although welcomed the fact it had been scaled down.

The group said: “The proposed buildings are too high for the site. This site is part of Totterdown and must complement the hillside setting, rather than dominate it. The proposed height will still have a harmful impact on views towards the Totterdown escarpment. Four storeys is the maximum height for this site.”

Previous plans put forward for the site were for 53 flats in a nine-storey building, but these were scaled back following concerns from the local community about the size of the development. Now the plans would be for 31 apartments, comprising four three-beds, 23 two-beds, and four one-beds. Despite many objections, some are supporting the plans.

Arthur Hurnell, of Brighton Terrace, said: “There is no other solution to our housing needs than new construction, so we face a clear choice: do we prioritise local concerns about noise, views of St Phillips Marsh industrial estate, or do we provide homes for the millions of people who desperately need them? This replaces an ugly car wash.”

Also supporting the plans is David McDonald, owner of the Thunderbolt. It’s understood the Grade-II listed pub, which regularly hosts live bands, will be protected from noise complaints under ‘agent of change’ rules.

Mr McDonald said: “I understand that Bristol City Council protects my site from neighbouring development that could affect its viability in the long term. However the measures in place, plus the reports and studies carried out, assure me the proposed new residential development will not cause any conflict with the future of the Thunderbolt as a live music venue.”