Controversial plans to turn a former care home into 126 student bedsits have been refused at the second time of asking.
Bristol city councillors voted by 5-3 to reject the proposed redevelopment of St Joseph’s in Cotham Hill because of a
massive local concentration of student housing.
The planning committee rejected the proposals by the same margin in September.
But because that went against officers’ recommendation to grant permission, it had to come back with possible reasons to withstand a costly appeal, or be approved.
Council planners’ advice remained the same – to give the go-ahead – but members blocked the scheme again.
More than 170 residents objected to the proposals, and Cllr Guy Poultney (Green, Cotham) stood down temporarily as Bristol City Council planning committee vice-chairman for both meetings, saying the decision to refuse planning consent was so obvious he could not make a decision with an open mind.
Speaking from the public gallery at the meeting on October 14, he said: “You have hundreds of people saying there is existing harm and that this will make it worse, and the council has no evidence to suggest that they’re wrong.
“How is the officer’s report still recommending approval?”
Former Lib Dem councillor Anthony Negus urged members to refuse permission or the community would be ‘very damaged’ by the transient student population.
Johnny Kidney, speaking for applicants Harringay Real Estate, said the scheme was not another house in multiple occupation (HMO) but a ‘managed, secure, well-contained’ purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) with staff on site.
He told councillors: “Bristol has seen a record intake of students this year but the provision of PBSA has not kept up with demand.
“We acknowledge the issues with the unmanaged HMOs but where else can students go if specialist accommodation is not provided for them?
“There is not one single PBSA bedroom in Cotham ward despite its proximity to campus.”
Cllr Ani Townsend (Green, Central) said: “There are some streets around here that are at least three-quarters student HMOs.
“The high proportion of student numbers in this area is already really damaging.
“All the reasons for this being rejected last time still stand and I haven’t heard anything to convince me otherwise.”
Cllr Izzy Russell (Green, Ashley) said: “Voting for this would just enable the unsustainable expansion of universities.”
But Cllr Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) said: “We’re not talking about family homes being set aside for PBSA.
“We’re talking about an institution which has to be invested in, otherwise it will fall to pieces and it would be a crime to do that to a historic building when we have such an acute housing crisis.
“I’m long enough in the tooth in this chamber to remember plenty of members who made courageous decisions.
“It would be appalling and disgusting to not do what we’re elected to do, which is to assess planning applications according to policies. In planning terms, this application is perfectly adequate, as if it’s refused it will go to appeal and most likely be overturned and costs awarded against us.”
Committee chairman Cllr Don Alexander (Labour, Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston) said: “I’m not at all frightened to admit I would agree with you.”
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Councillors’ column: Page 8