Bristol City Council is carrying out another consultation on the £40 million redevelopment plan for the former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory in Greenbank.

This is despite the fact the plans were actually approved by the council six months ago, and a £12,000 consultation has already been carried out.

Squarepeg's plans are to build 252 flats and houses on the site, but the sticking point has been access to a strip of land along the Bristol-to-Bath cycle path.

The developer has repeatedly said it needs the land to allow the construction of up to 22 so-called cycle houses along the path.

The cycle houses, the brainchild of architect George Ferguson, are believed to be unique in this country and some would have direct access to the cycle path.

The previous consultation exercise showed that the majority of people who responded opposed losing the land on the grounds it would harm the environment.

The council disregarded this when it granted planning permission in March, allowing the sale of the land subject to planning permission, and a decision was due on the land sale by the end of April so the developer could begin work.

But in the last five months, control of the council has shifted from Labour to the Liberal Democrats, who have now organised a second round of consultation.

This time the consultation looks at the issues of access and safety.

Executive member for environment and community safety Gary Hopkins rubbished the previous consultation.

He said: "People were previously asked to express an opinion on something that basically there was little chance of them influencing.

"There had already been a decision under the previous administration to proceed with the development subject to planning approval.

"Most of the features of the development are effectively set in stone and we could not now influence them without the scheme being effectively scrapped which would leave us with a derelict factory.

"We are agreeing that they can have it [the land] in principle and build the development but we are saying before the lease is finalised we want to hear people's views on the access.

"It is in everyone's interests that path users and residents are as happy with access and safety arrangements as possible.

"There is no cost – unlike the first one – for outside work.

"There is officer time in doing the set-up work but given that this is a quiet time of year we are using their time effectively."

Four of the cycle houses would be built on the land owned by the council.

Squarepeg says a "fair proportion" of the land will be used for access to the chocolate factory site for walkers and cyclists, and also for the cycle dock.

This building is included in the plans and houses a café, a 20-room youth hostel style cycle venue, cycle repair and sales workshop, all open to the public.

A spokesman said: "The access from the house to the cycle path is part of the ongoing discussion with BCC regarding an easement across the verge.

"It may not be what some people want to hear, but families have cars and cars need to be kept somewhere.

"The message from the local residents was very clear – they did not want to add to the on-street parking, hence the on-site parking allocation.

"The development certainly holds a great deal of positive elements for the area, not the least of which are jobs, homes and work space. Whilst we cannot expect everyone to like every aspect of the site, hopefully this clarifies some of the issues which are currently being debated."

The consultation questionnaire can be found on the Bristol City Council website. Deadline for submissions is Friday, September 25.