Comments for A Development for Bath Road, Bristol

Comment on Your Views by Suzanne

Suzanne — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:30:12 +0000

I thought I should add to my previous comment. Just reducing the height of the tower does not address the concerns about the monolithic bulk of this proposed development. The conclusion of the public enquiry was that the bulk and scale of buildings 1 and 2 was excessive and “it is the bulk and height of the non-tower element of building 1 in concert with building 2 that seems to me to be inappropriate at this location”. It may be more work for the architect and less money for the developer, but a rethink of the design is required rather than repeating the same mistakes.

Comment on Your Views by R Ryan

R Ryan — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:04:16 +0000

No problem with this but agree that the white render will look out of place.

Comment on Your Views by PJ Horner

PJ Horner — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:11:12 +0000

You refer to changing the singular to the plural. You have not done this.

On the page Design Development 2007 – 2009 you say This application was refused in 2008 for reasons relating to:-point 2. “the impact of noise from the nearby waste transfer station;”

The inspectors report refers to 4 waste transfer facilities.

Comment on Your Views by sls

sls — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:39:27 +0000

Why does totterdown have to be deluged in bland, badly designed lumps of buildings that will quickly become shabby? We already have had to suffer years of delays in School Road only to get a run of the mill, poorly thought out building that dwarfs the area and shadows the park, we can expect the same with the building next to it in the near future. Now we have to potentially loose our views with yet another ’shove up quick and make a profit’ high rise which will add nothing to the local area. Yes the site does need something and im not against modern building but how about something low rise, quirky and considered which will be an asset. Totterdown has always been a gem in the local area but it seems that every inch is being earmarked for building on, we have had 3 put up close to Hillcrest school in the last few years. Also, where are the children from these new buildings (if families can afford them) going to go? The local schools are massively oversubscribed anyway and there is always a bun fight for places. Where are all the cars going to go. Leave totterdown with some of the character that makes it attractive and stop trying to swamp it in cheap apartment buildings.

Moderator Note:- (i) Car parking for each residential unit is provided for in an underground car park; (ii) A view impact assessment will be provided to demonstrate that houses on Totterdown will look over the top of the site and key landmark buildings will not be obscured; (iii) the Council has agreed that £113,000 should be paid towards nursery and secondary school provision, £250,951 towards improving open space and £24,897 to local libraries.

Comment on Your Views by JaneH

JaneH — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:37:02 +0000

I agree with what seems to be the majority of comments here, that it would be good to see the area developed, albeit still more sympathetically to the area.
Regards the size of the development, it seems like an awful lot of dwellings to fit in to such a small area. I can understand this would be near the top of the commercial list of requirements, but as well as not wanting to be swamped by that many new residents or scare away too much of the riverside wildlife, I honestly wonder whether the area can take that much extra traffic. Especially if they are to make it a non right turn on to the bridge and with Paintworks to expand further and with it, no doubt, more traffic.

Regards to design, I don’t feel there is enough visual information on this site to gain a full understanding of the visual impact to the wider area. The focus seems to be on the signature white building on the corner and not so much on the smaller buildings going further along Bath Road (which look quite dull and basic from the small image that I could see).
I think it would benefit from using more natural materials, (along with more green area/vegetation) and while I wouldn’t want to repeat the Victorian style, I’m worried that a cheap contemporary building can start to look shabby very quickly.
Where brick is used it would be great to see something other than a standard uniform block of one colour.
As mentioned above, the Paintworks redevelopment and the new properties on Cemetery Road have been done really well and bring their own character to the area which I hope this new development can add to.
(I live in Hawthorne Street and didn’t receive a flyer or any information on this updated proposal either)

Comment on Your Views by Martyn Trowbridge

Martyn Trowbridge — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:25:51 +0000

Here we go again, pictures that do not show how your slab blocks will shadow Totterdown or how they will block the views of Totterdown from the railway line. Flats, flats, flats yawn, you have not learned anything from the planning enquiry!

Comment on Your Views by Peter R

Peter R — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:04:45 +0000

The proposed development would appear to be a sensible solution to an unpleasant eyesore

Comment on Your Views by Carrie D L

Carrie D L — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:16:43 +0000

I agree that some improvement to Thunderbolts steps would help, and possibly some improvements to the footpath which is well used. We live further down the Bath road and always cross the bridge and use the excellent cyclepath on the otherside. A ferry stop is a great idea in theory but this is tidal river not the floating harbour, it couldn’t work. Also the riverside walkway couldn’t get around or over the Albert bridge I doubt. We’re not against the idea but would like to know if some profit/money could be spent on community projects, Totterdown is a thriving area and it would be shame if the new houses were just an island and didn’t add to what the area has to offer. A shop, creche or community space as well as the walkway link?

Comment on Your Views by Steve G

Steve G — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:32:45 +0000

My comments are made as a daily user of the Thunderbolt steps and Totterdown bridge.

I think the aerial view is poignant; contrary to some comments here, 80% of the space to be used is not “eyesore”, but green. Many days I see cormorants and buzzards cruising this area. When the 70’s planners authorised the sweeping away of the low rise housing on the south bank of the Avon for the never built bypass, they bequeathed us a swathe of green land. The proposed development would cut a significant part from this and presumably open the prospect for 3 or 4 of the Totterdown bridge approaches to be similarly developed.

From my Arnos Street vantage, I see two other recent apartment developments on School Road. The earlier development is a simple rectangular block with a roof-line echoing the Edwardian Houses around it. The second is a strange assembly of wooden boxes, pushing the limits of height and integration beyond the acceptable. The proposed development seems rather like the latter, more Temple Quay than Totterdown. The developers of the PaintWorks have done rather well with a low rise development. I would be pleased to the same or less on the old petrol station site.

As a footnote, please don’t go further than the level 3 code compliance; buy energy from large scale renewable sources, and save the inefficiency and waste of resources of embedded generation.

Comment on Your Views by Suzanne A

Suzanne A — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:17:10 +0000

Visual impact. Given the concerns raised at the public enquiry, it is disappointing that there is not enough detail here to understand the changes to the design. I would reiterate that any development needs to be sensitive to the local area including acknowledging the river, the ‘industrial’ history and the local housing. The white render is unsuitable. Plans need to illustrate various alternative materials. Some brick and stone would be in keeping with the site. Images should be included that show the impact on views of the Totterdown escarpment. Landscaping should be in keeping with the riverside site and wildlife friendly.

Bulk. Reducing the previous proposal by 10-15 residential dwellings is insufficient to address the concerns about bulk. Is this achieved solely through reducing the height of the tower? More space is required between the other buildings, and some variation in their shape, is required to avoid the feeling of a ‘heavy block’, and allow some views of Totterdown from the river.

Transport. The Bath Road is extremely congested at peak times, and always a very busy road. Car drivers may experience difficulties accessing and leaving the development. Clear plans of the access route are required. It will be important to consider the enforced no right turn on to Totterdown Bridge.
A suitable route for cyclists and pedestrians is important. The current ‘shared’ pavement/cycle path into Bristol is inadequate and dangerous. Any riverside walkway should be wide enough to safely accommodate pedestrians and cyclists as far as Temple Meads to provide a safe, green route for cyclists and walkers.
I support the idea of the City Car Club involvement.
I also agree that extending the ferry service could be an excellent way of reducing congestion on the road, and supporting a valuable alternative mode of transport in Bristol.

Additional facilities. Some retail and some additional facilities, e.g. café, are important to create a sense of community. The impact of several noisy and dusty waste transfer stations on residents does not appear to have been adequately addressed. I am sympathetic to the idea that some Section 106 monies should be spent on improving the historic Thunderbolt Steps.