Green light for old BRI redevelopment

Plans for the old Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) building to be redeveloped into student accommodation have secured planning approval.The latest application by student accommodation developer Unite Group, which bought the site in 2015, has been unanimously backed by councillors.After a number of earlier proposals were rebuffed, Unite’s application features 62 private rental apartments within the converted BRI building alongside 416 student beds in a new build element, a major reduction from the 700-plus beds previously envisaged.The Fripps Chapel on site is to be refurbished and will be available for a variety of community uses, while a small commercial unit is proposed for the southern end of the site and considerable public realm improvements are also envisaged.In a report scrutinised at the meeting, planning officers were said to have welcomed the heritage-led approach to the development from the design team, led by Alec French Architects, which has led to the retention and sensitive conversion of the BRI as well as the appropriate alterations to the chapel.The provision of student accommodation is considered acceptable within the city centre location and was not thought to compromise the diversity of uses with the area nor the overall housing mix.A hospital was first opened on the site in 1736, one of the first outside London, with the current property built in phases between 1784 and 1810.Unite purchased the property after it was deemed surplus to requirements.