Dominus has received planning consent to transform a brownfield industrial site in Bristol into a new mixed-use scheme.
The proposals for the New Henry Yard development, which were designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, comprises two buildings.
The east building will feature a telecoms hub and provide 60,000 sq ft of flexible employment space suitable for uses such as makerspaces, warehousing and storage. The second building will provide 549 student homes, a new community hub and amenity areas, including a planted courtyard, gym and social/study spaces.
The site sits opposite the Dings residential area and is identified in the Old Market Quarter Neighbourhood Plan for mixed-use regeneration.
Dominus updated earlier plans for the site by more than doubling the amount of employment space, relocating the community hub and reducing the massing of the scheme closest to neighbouring residents.
Ian Fergusson, planning director at Dominus, said: “Our plans will regenerate an underused brownfield site, double the amount of employment space and deliver 549 professionally managed student homes. Student numbers continue to grow in Bristol while the supply of student housing has not kept up with demand, which puts pressure on the private rental market. The site is within walking distance from Temple Meads Station and the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus where 4,600 students will study.”
Cormac Farrelly, director at Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, added: “We are delighted that this innovative mixed use scheme has been granted planning permission; it marks a significant milestone for the project and stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved. We look forward to seeing the scheme which provides much needed new homes, a community hub and significant employment space move forward to the next stage.”
David Feeney, partner at Cushman and Wakefield, said: “Based on latest available data for the academic year 2022/23, Cushman & Wakefield calculates that 50,135 students require a bed space during their course of study at Bristol’s universities. Measured against the number of beds available in the same academic year of 2022/23 (17,617), the student to bed ratio in Bristol stands at 2.85:1. This means that there are close to three students with a requirement for a bed vs every PBSA bed available in the city. This ratio is the highest of any major UK market outside of London.”
Eliott Kelly, associate director, planning, development and regeneration, Avison Young, added: “Avison Young are delighted to help Dominus secure resolution to grant. Collaborating closely with Bristol City Council, local stakeholders and the design team, we’re pleased to have created a fantastic new scheme in the city that blends high-quality student accommodation close to the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, with a new innovative workspace. The proposals meet local needs while demonstrating a best-in-class solution to optimising brownfield sites.”
