New lease of life for former Bristol Zoo car park site

Bristol Zoo’s former West Car Park site is set to receive a new lease of life after being acquired by a well-known housebuilder.The brownfield site – which has been bought from the Bristol Zoological Society by The Hill Group – has lain dormant since Bristol Zoo Gardens closed its doors in September 2022 to facilitate a new conservation-focused venture at the Wild Place Project in South Gloucestershire.The acquisition will see 62 homes brought forward, comprising seven mews houses and 55 one and two-bed apartments, with a provision of 20 per cent affordable homes.Planning permission was granted for the development in December 2022, with the decision subject to an unsuccessful judicial review challenge.Andy Hill, group chief executive of The Hill Group, said: “This is an important site for the city of Bristol, both in terms of redeveloping a former part of the historic zoo and providing high-quality accommodation in such an architecturally rich part of the city.”We are pleased to have completed our acquisition of the site, and now look ahead to delivering a development that reflects the heritage of Clifton while also addressing the housing needs of the local area.”The proceeds from the sale will be used by the Bristol Zoological Society to fund the first phase of construction at Wild Place Project; to be called Bristol Zoo Project. This will include the creation of a new central African forest area, with construction expected to start in 2024.Justin Morris, chief executive at Bristol Zoological Society, added: “It is great to see the progress being made on the redevelopment of this historically important location, offering new, sustainable and affordable housing for Bristol.”