Bristol Mayor George Ferguson wants to make city most open for business in the UK
BRISTOL mayor George Ferguson has pledged to make Bristol the most "open for business" city in the UK.
Speaking in Cannes at MIPIM, Europe's biggest property show, Mr Ferguson said he wanted the city council to have a single planning committee to simplify the planning process for potential developers.
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George Ferguson Mayor of Bristol
And he said he was open to the idea of councillors receiving training in planning procedures.
He told The Post: "I know it has to be approved by councillors but I want planning to be better resourced and better informed."
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The city council has attracted criticism in the past from developers whose high-profile plans – although recommended for approval by officers – have been thrown out by councillors.
These included the Sainsbury's plan for Ashton Gate, Gloucestershire Cricket Club's bid for a new ground and the initial housing plan for Bristol General Hospital.
Mr Ferguson added: "I know I can't influence decisions but I can create the conditions in which sensible planning takes place."
He said the city should have a "developer strategy" to create more certainty for potential investors and would also like successful developers to help sell the city to others.
9 Comments
by robert1bobby
Thursday, April 11 2013, 4:41PM
“dream YOUR dream george, , another waste of space that will end up being paid for by ratepayers”
by robert1bobby
Tuesday, April 02 2013, 12:20PM
“WHO ARE THESE BIG BUSINESSES? SO FAR WE HAVE A FAILED CABOT CIRCUS, ONLY PARTIALLY FILLED, PARKING TAXES THAT DO NOT ENCOURAGE COMPANIES TO COME HERE BUT IN FACT PREVENTS THEM COMING, A SYSTEM OF RATES THAT MAKE SURE A COMPANY STRUGGLES TO MAKE A GO OF UIT, A COUNCIL WHO ALLOW BUILDINGS TO BE BUILT WITHOUT ADEQUATE PARKING ,
TELL ME, WHO THE HELL WOULD COME TO A CITY THAT ISD SO ANTI CAR?”
by gary_hopkins
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:20PM
“The factual position is that Councillors DO recieve training before sitting on planning committees.
Also interesting to note that both the cricket club and the Sainburies at Ashton were approved by planning committees after improvements were made by the applicants.Sainsburies clearly learnt as well as their application at the MEM was very carefully worked up and went straight through .”
by charliecycle
Friday, March 15 2013, 8:51AM
“Roversteve said
"Make sure Tess Green doesn't sit on any Planning Committee that will go a long way to making the planning process more straightforward!"
Sounds like she is doing a good job then”
by GanjaCrew
Friday, March 15 2013, 12:55AM
“'a single planning committee' him? isnt this putting big business first. i thought he was putting bristol first?”
by Tim_M
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:16PM
“I hope "simplyfing the planning process" doesn't involve accepting even lower quality buildings and architecture in our central area.
I think we are being overly strict about the height of buildings (which is okay in conservation areas like Harbourside, but seems completely unnecessary around e.g. Temple Meads), which leads to blocks of uniform buildings all the same size and shape. We should allow more variety in height to liven up the sky line. That doesn't mean supertalls, but allow the occasional 12-15 storey building next to 6-9 storey ones. This should also allow for higher quality buildings and surroundings hopefully.”
by Roversteve
Thursday, March 14 2013, 2:23PM
“Make sure Tess Green doesn't sit on any Planning Committee that will go a long way to making the planning process more straightforward!”
by Joke_Bristol
Thursday, March 14 2013, 11:14AM
“@whippetslick
Mr Ferguson is the elected Mayor of Bristol, paid to promote and fly the flag for the city both nationally and overseas which is precisely what he is doing in France.
Mr Rees is a failed politician who was nothing but a puppet for the London controlled 'One Nation' Labour Party to the point where he is now excluded from all local party decision making.
There's the real difference.”
by whippetslick
Thursday, March 14 2013, 10:17AM
“Uncle George is still soaking up the sunshine on the French Riviera then...
Marvin is beating the dangerous back streets of Easton, fighting social discord and drug culture.
Marvin is like Wesley Snipes, George is like Mr Burns from the Simpsons.”