Harbourside site set for residential redevelopment

A former gas works on Bristol’s harbourside featuring a number of listed buildings is set to be redeveloped for residential use, with plans recommended for approval at a meeting next week.Square Bay (Anchor) and Anchor Road (Bristol), via agent GVA, lodged plans in 2016 for the former Canon’s Marsh Gasworks.The Brandon Yard site, located between Anchor Road and the floating harbour, contains two grade II-listed stone buildings now in disrepair – Purifier House West and Engine House – and a listed boundary wall. The site has been vacant for about 40 years.The application proposes a total of 58 residential units across West Purifier House, a new six-storey building in the north-eastern section of the site, and two houses in the Engine House.Square Bay acquired the site, which has planning and listed building consent for a commercial office development, in April 2016.A planning statement submitted as part of the application has estimated that the construction value of the scheme is about £14m with 147 full-time equivalent jobs potentially supported.The scheme will be considered by Bristol City Council’s development control committee (A). It is recommended for approval, subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement to secure financial contributions of £364,182 to off-site affordable housing.The recommendation comes despite Historic England’s suggestion that planning permission is refused. It said the “excessive scale, materials and articulation” of the proposals will harm other nearby listed structures.