We just want to do the best we can for Bristol
A CABINET councillor has answered critics who believe the city council is deliberately trying to slow down Bristol's growth and prosperity.
"We are not trying to slow things down, we just want to make sure we get things right and the best that we possibly can for Bristol," said Anthony Negus, the Lib Dem councillor in charge of regeneration in the city.
He said there had been some sniping since councillors turned down planning permission for the redevelopment of the General Hospital site in Redcliffe. The plan was to transform some of the old buildings into apartments as well as demolish some of the later additions and build a new block of flats.
But the scheme was turned down after the council and the developers City and Country failed to agree over finances.
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The council asked the developers to contribute £1.2 million towards improvements in the area under what is known as a Section 106 agreement.
They also wanted the developers to provide some low-cost homes as part of the scheme.
But the developers were only prepared to pay a contribution of £120,000 and no affordable homes.
The project is now expected to go before a planning inspector at a public inquiry.
Mr Negus, an architect by profession, said: "The perception is that it is difficult to get things done in Bristol whereas nothing could be further from the truth. We work very proactively to encourage developers to come to Bristol."
He said they had a planning blueprint in place called a Core Strategy which sets out what kind of development can go on specific sites or zoned areas of the city.
The council's planning officers also hold pre-application meetings with developers so that by the time the scheme is put before councillors, it may have been changed or improved so officers can recommend approval.
Mr Negus said the Government was relaxing planning regulations to try to help the construction industry to weather the economic recession.
But he said the council had been working with developers for years to help them overcome planning issues so that new schemes could go ahead.
He said there were examples where the council had relaxed Section 106 contributions in order to allow new development to start.
One of these was Finzel's Reach, the redevelopment of the former Courage Brewery site into apartments. The scheme was in danger of being mothballed because the developers could not afford the contribution.
Another example was the former Megabowl site at Ashton Gate where a block of new flats has been built.
The scheme was in danger of faltering because the developers could not afford the 106 contribution at the beginning of the project.
The council agreed to "back end" the payments so they were made after the flats were sold.
A third example is the Wapping Wharf project to build new homes behind the M shed museum. The council is helping the developers to negotiate funding for affordable homes from a Government quango called the Homes and Communities Agency.
Mr Negus said they understood that developers worked to tight profit margins, especially in these days of recession.
But he said a balance must be drawn between allowing any development to go through without controls and imposing so many restrictions that nothing gets built at all.
He said: "We have a responsibility to make sure that quality is maintained and that new schemes are sustainable – that doesn't mean they have to be bristling with solar panels and so on, it means that new development helps to create an environment where people want to live, work and play in safe and comfortable surroundings."
Comments
by green_man
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:47PM
“There's plenty of wealth in Bristol - but its not fairly distributed. Its long been this way and is part of what makes the city less secure and sustainable.”
by J12345678
Wednesday, September 19 2012, 11:45PM
“Highest GDP per head outside London. I keep hearing that but the city's wages aren't that high? Why is it that 25% of Bristol households are then getting housing benefit unless it's very low wages?
For people earning high GDP per head (I expect by commuting to London) then they will have big houses, cable TV, supermarket deliveries and cars. Let's face it, these people will NEVER get on a bus. Is that why BCC is anti-car?”
by PJ1979
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:40AM
“S106 agreements are used to ensure that the off site impacts of developments are mitigated. Specifically on this issue, how can people criticise the refusal to grant planning permission for the gneral hospital development as a bad business decision. The Council is supposed to be running public services in the most efficent manner, e.g. like a private business, so why would any business in there right mind grant permission that will cost them money to address the impacts of a development that is being built solely for private profit?
Wake up people, private development is good to grow the economic, but not good at any cost! We pay enough tax, so why do we need to continue to subsidise private development through the planning system?”
by gary_hopkins
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 10:18AM
“Is there a reason why the tiny minority who hate Bristol show themselves on here.Do they
have nobody who will converse with them in the real world?
Bristol is not a backwater and the huge number of high tech businesses and individuals who want to be here confirms that.I belive that it is by far the best city in the Uk to live in.
GDP per head is the second highest outside London.
Quality of life indicaters are much higher here than practically anywhere else in the UK and outside opinion regularly confirms that.
The judges comments from 10 european countries recieved at the weekend as they gave the city their top award were a joy to read.
We used to have an awful education system . We do not now and the only other major drawback for citizens and business alike is the overpriced and patchy transport system which is now being fixed.”
by FOX_Joe
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:29AM
“Romney could have talking about LibDem and Labour voters in Bristol. Spot on Mitt.”
by FOX_Joe
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:28AM
“Surrey.”
by Baldeeheed
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:32PM
“FOX_Joe really does seem very confused indeed.
He appears to be conflating the Liberal Democratic party with the City and County of Bristol.
Here's a clue, Joe - one is a political party in Coalition with the Conservatives, the other is a city in the West of England.
I've lived in Bristol all my life. It's not perfect, but it's a great place to live. Great architecture, fantastic topography, great bars and restuarants, loads of events and things to see and do - many of them free for me and my family. Some really nice parks, good shopping and some of the best people on the planet.
I went to my local Uni -Bristol - as a matute student. Dozens and dozens of my fellow students stayed in Bristol to live and work - because they came to love the city and managed to find jobs in its successful urban economy. They stayed because of the quality of life that FOX_Joe claims doesn't exist - that's drivel.
I've travelled and stayed in other cities across the UK - and they all have their plus points, but there's nowhere as good as Bristol.
And if you think that students at Bristol's universities keep the Lib Dems or Labour in power, then you clearly know nothing, and I mean nothing, about Bristol.
I couldn't care less what you think about the Lib Dems - I'm not particularly attracted to them myself, but to deride Bristol because it has been run by Lib Dems for three years is arrant nonsense.
You really are talking total tosh. If you don't like Bristol, take a hike and go and find somewhere that you do like - Moscow? Beijing? Swindon?”
by green_man
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:31PM
“http://tinyurl.com/ydycxv4”
by green_man
Monday, September 17 2012, 10:10PM
“The truth is that growth is not equivalent to prosperity, though this report suggests they are. Prosperity is a broader idea, encompassing general flourishing, thriving, general wellbeing, happiness and health as well as the economy. Neither is growth equivalent to success. http://tinyurl.com/8m6wbou”
by ceembee
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:38PM
“@Trymriverman
Yes but not to the extent I witnessed all at the expense of tax payers & I have worked in the voluntary, public & private sectors so have had considerable experience of office behaviours & this was by far & away the worst. Absolutely appalling & the person whose work I was doing on top of my own (without additional pay I might add) was identifying monies owed in that person's 'patch'.”