Plan for 20-storey block at former Gardiner Haskins Soapworks site approved

A new 20-storey tower block will be built in Bristol city centre as part of a £175million project to transform the former Gardiner Haskins building.The Grade-II listed Soapworks in Old Market is set to be turned into a tower block housing 243 homes, a food and drinks hall and space for work, retail and leisure.Bristol City Councillors approved the plans after previous proposals to create a hotel with self-catering accommodation were dropped.The hotel would have reduced the amount of affordable housing in the scheme, which will now be 20 per cent.The plans were given the go-ahead despite objections from neighbours, who fear the new buildings will dwarf their block and mean they lose sunlight and privacy.Elliot Davidson, who lives in nearby Kingsley House, said the overshadowing of his block would create a “dark and depressing environment” and the loss of light would be “devastating”.Neighbour Peter Dunn said in a statement to Bristol City Council’s development control committee it would feel like he is “living in a goldfish bowl with no real privacy at all”.But officers said the public benefits outweighed the impact on residents and recommended approval.Addressing neighbours’ loss of light, a planning officer said: “It is quite complicated.Cllr Marg Hickman said Kingsley House had mostly council tenants who felt “beleaguered” and victims of a “pincer movement” from nearby building work in recent years.But she said the developers had promised her they would work with the block’s community group to mitigate some of the impact.Now the project must be signed off by the Secretary of State because of an objection from Historic England regarding the harm to heritage assets.Historic England principal inspector of historic buildings and areas Simon Hickman said the “substantial demolition” of ancillary buildings would cause “considerable harm”. He said they were also concerned about the height of the 20-storey tower.First Base project director Lucinda Mitchell said the firm is “delighted” the plans have been approved.