“Demolishing structurally sound if tired commercial building is rarely the most sustainable solution. Mincing up the old concrete for hardcore is energy intensive and a feeble green alibi. It is nearly always greener to repair, alter, reclad, re-service existing multi storey structures. But developers make money by cramming more sq feet onto a site. Until Government and business realise that modern communications do not require hundreds of staff to work in one office this will go on. In this case at least a hideous building, left empty by Bristol Council for many years, is being replaced by a better looking one. But the whole process is far from green.”

“Eco building great news, reducing the future¿s carbon footprint.

But Bristol can't vie for the title of European green capital until it sorts out the ever increasing traffic congestion. The local infrastructure needs major improvement. The buses don't run on time because there's too much traffic. The roads are gridlocked because people don't like waiting for buses stuck in traffic. They'd rather sit in traffic in their own cars adding to the congestion and emission problems. The council was considering congestion charges. That would certainly help. What about the lite rail to North Bristol/ South Gloucestershire? Can't the councils agree to work together for the greater good of humanity!!”

“Have to agree with pj, Bristol City Council has never encouraged offices to out of town locations, it's down to their sheer incompetance in providing a decent road network in bristol that has caused loads of companies to congregate around the M4 junction. Not everyone who works in bristol lives there so while it might be convenient for you in Redland, Chris it certainly wouldn't be for others, also not everybody spends all day in the office or has the lunch time to visit the city centre amenities.”

“This has got to be a record even by BEP standards. This was all announced over a year ago.”

“What this article should really point out is that a large proportion of the raw material will be reused in the new building following demolition, primarily in the foundations. So I don't see the problem with developing an eco friendly building because in the long term it will have a reduced environmental impact.

Bristol City Council has never encouraged office to out of town locations, I think you will find that ist a combination of South Gloucestershire Council and market forces. The Council didn't build Cabot Circus or Cribbs Causeway, developers did, so hardly a waste of money. this development has very little to do with the Council so is hardly jobs for the boys!”

“I rather think that Bristol Council has shot it'self in the foot. Firstly it encouraged all these major companies to move their head offices to these out of town retail parks, where the local infrastructure cannot cope with the volume of cars and relatred traffic.
Then we have a wonderful out of town shopping complex built at Cribbs Causeway, with fantasic parking facilities but hopeless infrastructure in the road system to cope with the subsequent traffic.

Now ... Bristol has spent all this money building Cabot Circus - a fantastically appointed shopping centre albeit in the wrong direction from the City Centre. Wonderful parking, right in town, encourage public Transport but also they are now building more offices (albeit eco friendly ones) where there is plenty of office space and empty buildings around the City Centre.
Just how eco friendly is pulling down a building and then building another one in it's place, surely you would be able to gut it out and then use the space available. Of course it was probably an eyesore and the poor councillors wanted a nice eco friendly building to look at out of the back windows of the Council House so that they can pat themselves on the back and tell themselves they are providing Bristol with a legacy for our future generations.
Fat cats, fat pay packets and jobs for the boys, that's all I see in the Council. time to vote them out and get a council that works for US!
Pah.”

“Demolition of the old building, and possible demolition of some if not all of the existing 3 sites in use....not really all that "green" to me”

“1000 extra staff converging on central Bristol....not really all that "green" to me”

“Hmmmmmmmmm..........they could have recycled the whole building without knocking it down.....not really all that "green" if you ask me”

“It's about time more businesses/organisations stopped moving "out of town", including offices and retail. As my occasional drive to Parkway Station proves, the infrastructure to the north of the city round Parkway, Filton, Aztec West, etc simply cannot cope with the volumes of traffic. a 40 minute + drive from Parkway to Redland, vs. 15 from Temple Meads to Redland (or just 10 minutes by train!). By relocating centrally, more people (not everyone) can use public transport, and it is a no brainer that all the main arterial driving routes focus on the centre. Pity also the poor workers on these fringe estates/business parks who have no amenities or anywhere to go at lunchtime etc. What a boring life!

Real life is in the city!”