1. real estate

March 24, 2015
MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR ‘BEDMINSTER GREEN’ REGENERATION, AS COUNCIL REACHES
AGREEMENT WITH ST CATHERINE’S PLACE DEVELOPER
Bristol City Council has given the developer of St Catherine’s Place permission to scope out
plans which could lead to the £135milion regeneration of a much-neglected part of
Bedminster.
Last October the council approved Bristol-based Urbis’ application to redevelop East Street’s
run-down shopping centre St Catherine’s Place. At the time, the developer said the
redevelopment of St Catherine’s Place would spark a much-wider regeneration of that part
of Bedminster.
And now – in a significant step towards that goal - the council has signed an agreement with
Urbis allowing the developer to investigate the regeneration potential of several councilowned sites around St Catherine’s Place. The council is clear that the agreement covers
investigation of the regeneration, but is not a guarantee that the project is viable or who
would be selected to undertake any eventual work.
The agreement will allow Urbis to produce a draft masterplan for an area between
Bedminster station and East Street. Some of the sites it will consider are privately owned;
others are owned by the council. Any proposals would have to undergo full community
consultation and need approval by the city council’s planning committee.
Importantly, Urbis will now be able to secure further investment. Current indications for the
proposed regeneration project have been valued at £135m.
Together with the recently-consented St Catherine’s Place redevelopment, the wider
regeneration scheme - which Urbis is now referring to as Bedminster Green - could deliver
up to a total of 800 new homes, including 250 affordable homes.
The redevelopment could see a district heating system, a new frontage to Bedminster train
station and significant highways, parking and open space improvements.
Urbis’ managing director Richard Clarke said: “This is fantastic news for Bedminster and
Bristol. This area has been neglected for far too long. It’s an ideal place to build new homes –
and to help revitalise this community. When we first looked at St Catherine’s Place, no-one
was interested in Bedminster.
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St Catherine’s Place redevelopment – Urbis Developments/SCP Bedminster LLP
“Now we have lots of funders extremely keen to invest in this important Bristol centre. Our
plans for St Catherine’s Place have undoubtedly sparked this renaissance, and we have every
intention to use this remarkable opportunity to bring Bedminster back to its former glory.”
George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Supporting the regeneration of communities
around the city, most notably south Bristol, remains one of my key priorities.
“I welcome this agreement, which does not commit the council to the disposal of any land at
this stage, but is a good example of how we are working with developers to help achieve our
regeneration aims across the city.”
Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Bristol City Council’s Assistant Mayor for Regeneration, said: “I
welcome this clear framework for Urbis, the council and other interests to work together in
shaping a masterplan for the area identified.
“This agreement will allow Urbis to look in detail at the potential for much-needed
regeneration between Bedminster Station and East Street. Once they have scoped out these
proposals the council will look at them in light of its regeneration strategies.
“Any viable plans will need to go through the usual planning application processes.
“This is a model I want to encourage elsewhere in Bristol. The potential to link together
physical regeneration, homes, jobs and transport improvements is a strong incentive to now
make further progress.”
Since the planning committee decision in October 2014, Urbis has made good progress on St
Catherine’s Place. Planning permission was granted in January for a £1.15m refurbishment
of the shopping centre. Work is programmed to start in early autumn with the new retail
centre fully open by spring 2016. Discussions with new retail occupiers are making good
progress.
Urbis is expecting to agree the sale of the residential development – a stunning £23m
landmark building, accommodating 188 apartments - and sign contracts by Easter. Following
a further detailed planning application, it would expect to start building the new homes in
early 2016.
In the meantime, some internal demolition works are due to start shortly on the former DSS
building. The demolition of the entire building will commence in May and last about three
months. The retail centre will remain fully open during this time. The developer is already in
discussions with immediate neighbours about the construction programme.
Urbis is best known for its highly successful redevelopments of other iconic Bedminster
buildings, including the Robinson’s Building and the Gala Bingo site, which it is currently
being developed into 26 low-energy Passivhaus homes, which will make it Bristol’s
“greenest” development.
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St Catherine’s Place redevelopment – Urbis Developments/SCP Bedminster LLP
Media contacts:
Andrew Smith, director, Conversation PR
[email protected]
07450 194116
Richard Clarke, managing director, Urbis Developments
[email protected]
07825 612187
St Catherine’s Place redevelopment – Urbis Developments/SCP Bedminster LLP