Bristol City Council’s Site Allocations Document has identified 89 brownfield sites in Bristol for building nearly 8,000 new homes. The sites include parcels of land at Hengrove Park and Knowle West. The council is now consulting the public on its ‘preferred approach’ on these sites.
Meanwhile Matthew Hiles, of Flax Bourton-based CJH Land is calling for people to keep an open mind. He said appropriate development could help the local authority counter severe shortfalls in both private and affordable housing – as well as lifting the blight on neighbourhoods created by redundant, derelict and dangerous residential, commercial and industrial premises.
“We have handled many housing projects on brownfield sites across Bristol where residents might have had initial misgivings about the development proposal," he said. "The most important factor appears to be the uncertainty as to exactly what might happen on any particular site. Our experience has shown an effective housing scheme can lift that uncertainty, give neighbourhoods a much-needed shot in the arm and will often have the benefit of removing property which attracts anti-social or even criminal behaviour.”
He added: “While not suggesting every single one of the 89 sites being put forward by the city council will be entirely suited to residential development, positive consideration of all the options will in most cases result in a clear improvement to the local environment as well as an important addition to the city’s housing stock.”
Bristol City Council has been working on its housing allocation plans for two years. The final results of the consultation will be submitted to the Secretary of State in 2013 and followed by a public inquiry.
