'Shock and disappointment' after Bristol City Council recommends youth club for demolition despite pledge

Bristol City Council is recommending the former Eagle House Youth Centre on Newquay Road in Knowle West for demolition.

It comes despite the Green Party previously pledging to return the building to the community during last year’s council election.

For the last decade, the building has been used by controversial church Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, whose lease ends in May 2026.

READ MORE: Residents demand former Bristol youth club reopens in wake of fatal stabbings

In a letter about the future of the old youth club, council leader Tony Dyer wrote: “The building is in a poor state of repair and is likely to continue to have significant defects by the time we regain the lease in May 2026.

“It suffers from water penetration and outdated fixtures and fittings and the condition of electrical wiring is unknown but expected to be relatively poor.

“Any new lease to an occupier will be subject to the new energy efficiency legislation, meaning an EPC of Band E or better is required before it can be leased again.

“The property was previously Band G so it seems highly likely that it will fail to achieve Band E without significant investment in an aging and not-fit-for purpose facility.

“Furthermore, the requirements of managing a facility such as this are challenging for any community group and should not be underestimated.

“The cost of remediation, compliance, and on-going management of the building is likely to be prohibitive for community use and as such, the currently recommended solution for the former Eagle House Youth Centre is full demolition as soon as practical after May 2026.”

He said the wider Eagle House site has been earmarked for a mixed-use development since 2012, including a new community building.

Subscribe to the BristolWorld newsletter

In response to the letter, local Labour councillors Rob Logan and Lisa Durston said: “We are shocked and disappointed by this letter from the Green Administration regarding the former Eagle House Youth Club.

“We are working with residents in the community to agree our next steps.”

The Eagle House campaigners were among those who last month joined the launch of the South Bristol Community Coalition, a number of campaign groups accusing the Green Party of ‘broken promises’ following the 2024 council election.

The Green Party had pledged to commence the process of terminating the current lease of the old youth club within six months of the election so it could be returned to the community.

But the council leader said last month: “This was investigated and unfortunately, there are no legal grounds to terminate the lease early without potentially leading to a drawn-out legal process that could actually delay releasing the community facilities for local use.”

More than 850 people have signed a petition to reopen the youth club, a number that increased following the nearby murder of two teenage boys at the beginning of last year.

Campaigners have now reacted to the building being earmarked for demolition.

READ NEXT: Pressure mounts on Bristol City Council to reopen former youth club after teenagers' deaths

Anita Pearce, vice chair of Eagle House Social Club, wrote: “What a bunch of deceitful liars! That’s the only way to describe them!

“South Bristol has had enough of their empty promises and pledges!”

Anti-knife crime campaigner Leanne Reynolds added: “Are they having a laugh about demolishing!?

“Very disappointed and think this is not acceptable as we all know it’s very much needed for local youths.”

And Danica Priest, who was the local Green Party candidate in the 2024 council election, said: “It is deeply upsetting that the pledge now appears to be abandoned.

“This is not what was promised, and it is indefensible that the community is now being left without answers or accountability.”