On 21st September, two community workshop sessions were held with stakeholder groups and immediate neighbours to the site. These sessions for the first time presented the project team’s early-stage thinking on the masterplan for the development and the design principles for the site.

The first session (from 3-5pm) included an equal mix of stakeholder groups (e.g. Bristol Civic Society, Redland & Cotham Amenities Society, Henleaze Society) and immediate neighbours with the second session (6-8pm) having a greater proportion of immediate neighbours to the site. Representatives from the Westbury Park Community Association attended both workshop sessions.

The two workshops discussed:

• The constraints and opportunities of the St Christopher’s site

• Key design principles that should inform the development process

• The initial masterplan for the site’s redevelopment.

Across the two sessions, more than forty people attended and provided their views. The key themes that came from the sessions were:

• Importance to retain the existing character of the site

• Respect for boundaries between the site’s edges and neighbouring properties

• Concern about density, scale and massing of the proposed new buildings

• The need to provide sufficient parking on site and have a coherent access strategy

• A requirement to protect green space and local biodiversity

• Recognition of the potential of the site for sustainable development and intergenerational living

Full notes from the two sessions can be found here

The design team are in the process of reviewing all of the feedback received and we will come back to the community later this year to present further, more detailed plans for the site. At that point there will be a range of opportunities for the local community to provide feedback on the plans, including an in-person event, prior to the submission of a planning application. In the meantime, if you have any comments or feedback, please email feedback@stchristophersbristol.com.

On 8th and 9th July, members of the project team met with 30 immediate neighbours to the site on an individual basis to discuss the future of the St Christopher’s site.

The key themes that came from these meetings were:

• Strong preference for no pedestrian or vehicular access from The Glen

• Providing sufficient parking (as well as other options for sustainable travel e.g., car clubs) with a desire to see if this development could help bring forward an RPZ in the area

• Height and massing especially with a focus on overlooking

• Wall maintenance and boundary treatments for properties on Royal Albert Road

• Support for community benefits e.g. access for Westbury Park School, facilities in Grace House or play park