PLANS for a £10 million redevelopment of an "eyesore" Clifton office building have been given the go-ahead.

Bristol City Council has approved a planning application for a scheme involving the partial demolition of Redland House, a derelict, empty 1970s office building formerly occupied by Nat West.

CSJ Planning, on behalf of client Redland House BV, secured the unanimous approval of the Bristol City Council North Area Planning Committee subject to completion of a "Section 106" agreement, which will include contributions to highways works to improve public transport and help tackle problems of illegal parking in the vicinity.

The approved scheme will increase the available floorspace from 3,233 sq m to 6,895 sq m.

Of the 56 current car spaces, 48 will be retained, with the addition of 56 new cycle parking spaces and six motorcycle spaces.

Local architect Stride Treglown created a design involving the demolition of the existing building back to its structural frame and its extension, recladding and refurbishment, to create a completely new look.

The new building will have a new "thermally efficient envelope", complete with green roof, as well as low- energy heating and cooling systems, recycling facilities and solar water heating. The design has also been future- proofed to allow on-site energy generating facilities to be incorporated into the building in the future when this technology is readily available.

Julie-Marie Laming, Associate Director of CSJ Planning said: "This site has become an eyesore in the area.

"The present building is long past its useful life and since the relocation of NatWest it has been empty, been vandalised and fallen into disrepair.

"This scheme will help regenerate this key site which forms an important gateway into this area of Bristol."