Plans for development at the former St Christopher’s School in Westbury Park have been scaled back.
Square Bay and Acorn Property Group said their scheme for the site next to the Downs had been revised in response to feedback from residents and community groups. They were due to put them on show at St Alban’s Church on September 24, after the Voice went to print.
In their initial responses to the new plans, both St Christopher’s Action Group (SCAN) and Westbury Park Community Association (WPCA) welcomed the changes but expressed concerns that they did not go far enough.
The developers said: “As you would expect, different people have different priorities. The proposals seek to respond to these different considerations while providing a viable future for the St Christopher’s site, which has stood vacant since 2020. Redeveloping the site will inevitably involve some compromise to balance a range of considerations.
“We believe our refined proposal will return this historic site to its former glory, in a really sensitive way that respects the heritage buildings and grounds, bringing a once vacant site back in use.”
Their proposals include:
• Reducing the number of new-build homes from 40 to 34; Adding downsizer houses to the mix;
• Reducing the heights of some of the proposed new buildings;
• Retaining all mature trees and planting more;
• Shifting some new homes further from neighbouring properties;
• Reducing the number of new homes proposed as an extension to The Glen and removing the vehicle through route from this access.
The scheme would see the 1960s Grade II Listed Grace House restored and converted into apartments and the five Victorian lodges restored. In total, 55 homes would be provided on the site.
WPCA’s planning experts welcomed the proposed open pedestrian access and the possibility that children from the nearby primary school could use the open green space. They were also pleased to see that the community’s request for downsizer homes had been met, but they reserved the right to comment further on other detailed aspects.
In an email to supporters, SCAN said of the scheme: “There are a number of positives — like the retention of protected trees — but disappointingly, many of the claimed changes are limited, unclear or raise further questions.”
It said traffic, access and road safety had been identified as the community’s main concern, but there was still no clear solution to the additional traffic, visitors/deliveries and congestion.
It was also unsure that the residents’ worries about overflow parking on streets around the site had been addressed.
Plans from a previous developer to create a luxury retirement village at the site of the former special school, which closed in 2020, were thrown out in August 2023. The site was put on the market with an asking price of £10 million.
Campaigners would like to see some special needs provision remain on the site.
The latest plans can be viewed at https://stchristophersredevelopment.co.uk
Once the developers have assessed the views put forward on September 24, they are likely to finalise their scheme ready for submission to Bristol City Council for planning
permission.