A seven-storey office building above shops in Bristol city centre could be turned into 57 homes under new plans recently submitted. Each week Bristol City Council receives dozens of planning applications seeking permission for a whole range of developments.
Over the past seven days, those applications also included converting a kebab takeaway and garage in Bedminster into a coffee shop and three homes, and repairs to a historic church roof. Here’s this week’s round-up of notable planning applications submitted to the council.
Every week dozens are validated by the local authority and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications — whether in support or objection.
The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Bristol City Council’s website.
Offices into homes
City centre offices would be converted into 57 apartments. Developers are asking for permission to change the use of the six floors above the shops at Embassy House, Queen’s Avenue, into homes.
The eight retail units would not be affected, although a small amount of extra space for shop use would be created by removing the escalators in the one on the corner of Queens Road. A total of 220 cycle storage spaces would be provided in the basement by removing 15 of the 33 car parking bays.
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Applicants Scottish Equitable are asking the council to grant prior approval under permitted development rights.
Kebab takeaway to coffee shop and homes
A Bedminster fast-food takeaway would be refurbished and turned into a coffee shop. The plans are for Best Kebab, on the corner of West Street and Palmyra road.
A two-bedroom house would replace a garage at the rear while two one-bedroom flats would be above the new coffee shop, replacing an existing maisonette. In planning documents, architects said: “The building is very tired and requires investment.
“The site was traditionally a local butcher, but in 2004 planning was granted for a takeaway. The property was then fitted out for such and has operated as this since. The entire building will be completely refurbished to a high standard
“Preparing the building for its next chapter of its life, on the ground floor it is proposed to have a coffee shop as there is not one in the locality.”
Church roof repairs
The historic All Saints Church in the city centre would undergo a major project to repair its roof. Some of the work to the Grade II*-listed building on the corner of All Saints Lane, Corn Street and High Street does not require planning permission because the Church of England has an exemption.
But consent is required from the council for new stainless steel handrails on the roof where there is a “significant risk from falling”, along with replacing modern polycarbonate protections for a stained-glass window with PPC plastic external grilles, according to planning documents. Architects on behalf of the Diocese of Bristol said: “The condition of the roof has been of some concern for a while.”
They said a survey in 2001 recommended roof and gutter improvements costing £100,000 but that, apart from emergency patching, this was never carried out because of the scale of the work, but that the condition had since deteriorated and all gutters need to be re-leaded to stop leaks. The architects said: “The existing roofs are quite steep and the masonry parapets to the south side of the church are low and unprotected.
“Access across the roofs is provided by ladders fixed to the roof slopes. There is a significant risk to health and safety where there is a risk of falling from the roof in the south elevation.”
They said many of the gutters were too shallow and did not comply with current standards. The architects said protective polycarbonate panels at the Henry Holiday window to the east gable of the south aisle were “cracked and unsightly” and would be replaced with external grilles.
They said the overall public benefit of preserving the church, which dates back to the 12th century, outweighed any harm to its significance and that of adjoining listed buildings.
Ex-Conservative Club to become housing
A former Conservative Club in Westbury-on-Trym would be converted into two homes. The ground floor and rear extension of the semi-detached Victorian villa in Westbury Road was used as a private members’ club, subsequently called the 131 Club, from 1972 but closed in July 2022.
An apartment would replace the ground floor space currently taken up by the ex-club’s two bars. The “ugly” extension would be demolished and a mews house built in its place.
Architects said the upper floors had been long in use as rental flats but that the downstairs former club had to undergo alterations because of fire safety for these properties.