Bristol Premier Inn site set for student accommodation

The Premier Inn site on the Haymarket in Central Bristol looks set to be redeveloped into student accommodation spanning a maximum of 28 storeys despite concerns.Branna Ltd & Premier Inn Hotels Ltd are seeking full planning permission for a mixed development of purposed-built student accommodation (PBSA) and clustered co-living accommodation.The Premier Inn building would be demolished with two buildings built in its place. One would contain 442 student bedrooms in a mixture of 201 studios and 241 cluster rooms and the other 142 co-living bed spaces, as well as shared amenity provision.The proposed buildings would be a maximum of 28 storeys, a significant increase on the existing 18-storey building.The scheme will bring forward two blocks of accommodation. The PBSA is block 15-28 storeys and the co-living block would be 18 storeys. These heights include the ground floor level.It is proposed to partially retain the existing basement to house plant and cycle storage. The ground floor would provide amenity for the proposed residents, as well as a public café, and a small kiosk in the public realm.The scheme would also be provided with a significant increase in public realm, when compared to the existing site.As well as the Premier Inn, the current site is occupied by a Beefeater restaurant, Cannon Street car park, Loot vintage clothing store, and a number of small cafés/restaurants as well as vacant shop units.A report for Bristol City Council’s Development Control A Committee next Wednesday (6 March) noted the site is recognised as a “significant development opportunity”. The report said it currently contains a “dated” building and public realm, in a sustainable location, well served by public transport and with good access to public services.The document said the application has attracted a “significant amount” of public interest. Concerns have been raised by Historic England, the Bristol Civic Society and various local amenity societies.It said these concerns largely result from the height of the building and the resultant impact on heritage assets. Other fears include the sustainability of the proposal, given it involves the loss of a large scale apparently viable building, and the impacts of the scheme on the high concentration of students in the location.A ward councillor has also called in the application to committee, citing concerns regarding ‘massing, height, density, lack of affordable housing, impact on local amenity and conservation area’.However, the report said concerns have to be weighed against the “benefits of making efficient use of a sustainable brownfield sites”. It noted this included the provision of affordable housing, improvements in design and the public realm that will be secured through the development of the site, improvements to the area around the bus stops, the provision of a more efficient building and the economic benefits of the development.”In reaching a decision on the application, therefore, these issues must be given weight and a balanced decision be reached,” it added.”In this respect, officers are of the view that the benefits would outweigh the harm.”Approval has been recommended subject to a section 106 and conditions.