Project Summary
- Former motorcycle showroom and bicycle shop, in commerical and residential neighbourhood and Conservation Area
- Restoration and repurposing of postwar buildings as mixed-use cafe/restaurant/venue
- Replacement of secondary shopping frontage with retail-related uses
- Heritage, operational and nighttime economy considerations
The Planning Process
The proposals involved the conversion and restoration of a pair of post-war buildings into a mixed-use cafe/restaurant venue, incorporating an events space, micro-brewery and micro-distillery, with canopy-covered pavement seating. Located at the southern end of Stokes Croft, both buildings formed part of secondary shopping frontage and were located on a primary route within a Conservation Area, surrounded by listed buildings and buildings of merit, and within prominently key views.
Stokes Croft is identified as a city centre gateway in which continued improvement and regeneration will be sought. Retail uses are a priority, however there is a flexible policy approach to planning control here, recognising the need for premises to move between shopping, business and arts or cultural uses, reflecting the way investment has been attracted to the area in recent years.
In collaboration with Smith Maloney Architects, we successfully delivered full consents for two alternative schemes for the site, supported by a series of acoustic, air quality, ecology, heritage, sustainability and transport assessments, aswell as managment strategies for the hospitality spaces, brewing uses and pavement seating. We also supported the client through a sensitive consultation process with the various amenity and community groups, public-drop in sessions and presentations to the City’s Conservation Area Panel.
Bristol City Council welcomed the repurposing of the buildings, accepted the enhancements to the Conservation Area, and were satisfied that the venue would be robustly controlled in terms of late night disturbance, pavement security, refuse and delivery arrangements. A restoration scheme that really befits the diverse nature of Stokes Croft and should long contribute to the regeneration of the area.
‘We have worked with Lyn for the last 5 years. Lyn has always given us sound advice and been successful with every application she has put forward on our behalf’.
Andrew Brown, Managing Director Portland Brown