Glimpse of Greenbank factory's future

THE developer of the former chocolate factory has released a series of artist's impressions which show how the £40 million scheme would look.

Squarepeg has included them as part of a glossy 80-page document, submitted to Bristol City Council along with its recent planning application.

The proposal is for 186 houses and flats on the former Elizabeth Shaw factory site, and a further 66 new-build homes on land around it.

A cafe, youth hostel, eateries, community space and business use are also included in the scheme.

Campaigners have objected to a provisional deal between the developer and the council to sell off a strip of green land along the nearby Bristol-to-Bath cycle path that will be used to increase the size of the site.

The strip would allow Squarepeg to build four of its 22 so-called cycle houses along the path, as well as the seven-storey Cycle Dock building.

Critics are still concerned about how the development will affect the popular path and argue that the Cycle Dock building would be overbearing.

Cyclist Chris Hutt, 57 of Clifton, called the sketches "misleading and confusing" and said: "None of the sketches show what path users will see, namely a long row of buildings including the seven-storey tower and the block of flats as well as the two groups of 22 houses.

"None of the sketches show more than nine houses, when the main terrace will have 12 houses plus the tower block at one end and the block of flats at the other.

"Almost all the sketches show views from well beyond the path.

"Users of the path would be much closer and the buildings would appear more overwhelming.

A Squarepeg spokesman has said the Cycle Dock is no different in height from the buildings cyclists already see while along the path.

They also say they intend to keep the area as green as possible, with a landscaping scheme. Included in this will be a zig zag pathway intended to recreate the look of a forest path, placed along the haulingway between two of the main buildings on the factory site.

A Squarepeg spokesman said: "The verge will still remain as green space and be replanted with species of plants that are already along this embankment, hawthorn hedges, native trees and undergrowth.

"The remainder of the cycle houses will be built up to the boundary of the land currently owned by Squarepeg and the company is negotiating with the council to agree a right of way over the verge to access the cycle path.

"The cycle houses are all a minimum of four to seven metres back from the cycle path and do not open directly on to the tarmac as has been suggested.

"The landscaping, between the tarmac and the cycle houses, which Squarepeg will restore, recreates the grass verge and scrub area that currently exists in order to maintain the wildlife corridor."

The Squarepeg document is expected to be posted on the council's planning website next week.