Pie Poudre

We are working at the detail of the Hawkins Street planning proposal. Last week the Evening Post asked us for comments that were prepared by our Chairman Paul Bradburn. 20^th January 2012

“The Hawkins Street site is a hugely important development for Old Market therefore the Old Market Community Association is keen to see that any application is of high quality and has the potential to be a great asset for both the developer and the community alike.

Upon first appraisal the submitted drawings go a long way towards delivering that goal and we applaud the architect for reusing many of the existing buildings that are an important historical reference to the industrial past of the area. The scheme shows a good reference to the architectural diversity that exists in Old Market with a mix of styles, materials and elevations.

We believe that what looks like being a good scheme at the moment, could with a few design changes, be a top level design that would raise the bar for other developers to aspire to.

Old Market is in desperate need of more family orientated living spaces. We would like to see more provision for 3 and 4 bedroom dwellings within the proposal and a better mix of affordable housing provision.

We also think that, considering how many people will be living here, there is not enough access to an open green communal space. The developers also own the Post and Press building which has a tract of under-used garden space next to Hawkins Street. This would present an ideal opportunity to integrate this space with the proposed development and create an open area for this new community to enjoy. We are looking at the long term sustainability of any new proposals, it has been proven that access to communal green spaces are a great benefit to health and the wellbeing of people who use them.

We would also love to see provision made for some live-work spaces within the proposal. The site was originally industrial and it makes total sense to regenerate some work spaces or enterprise workshops that bring a better mixed use and vibrancy to the area.

It would also be good to see some stronger architectural pieces within the proposal. The corner of Unity Street and Hawkins Street would benefit greatly from having a building that mirrors the scale and presence of some of the Gardiner Haskins buildings. A statement building, that would create a much more impressive gateway into the development.

If the developers and their architects would take on board these constructive suggestions we believe that this would achieve a very high quality development. That, backed by the planning officers making sure that the scheme is delivered as per the design drawings would create a valuable future legacy for Old Market.

The owners of the site have been based in Old Market for many decades. The area and its community have provided well for them. We can only hope that they will see fit to do the best they can for a community that deserves the best it can get.”

Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel (1849) - Courtesy of Bristol Records Office

In February 2011 we were approached by a developer with plans for the complete demolition of Ebenezer Chapel in Midland Road (the architectural salvage place and Cycle Shack).
Since then an attempt for listing with English Heritage has been refused because the Chapel is only of local importance and, while it is well preserved, there is not the important artwork which can be found in several listed religious buildings.
The initial plans for a complete demolition were discouraged by Bristol City Council, and while the discussions go on, the developer has provided us with further plans, which are still not deemed acceptable by the planning officers who wish that the entire Chapel is retained because it is an important local landmark.
The last versions of the plans are available here together with our initial response to the previous consultation in February/March 2011.

Please let us know what you think writing to oldmarket.future@gmail.com.

The landowner of the site with derelict buildings on the back of the Evening Post in the photo wants to develop the site. As part of the planning process, since this is classed as a major scheme, they need to consult the community and summarise the results in a Community Involvement Statement.

Site of the proposed development in Jacob Street

The site is part of Old Market Conservation Area and this is how the area is defined in its Character Appraisal.

“Jacob Street still reflects its historic origins as an access route to serve the Old Market Street frontages. This portion of the conservation Area most readily shows the historic Medieval plot pattern of narrow strips that stretched away from the main streets to the service areas behind. The Temple Way infrastructure and Bristol Evening Post building have destroyed the legibility of the original street plan, that once linked with the western extension of Jacob Street.

This character area runs along the southern boundary, and also grew as a subsidiary area used to service the main Market frontages. The Medieval mews-type courts that once existed gradually evolved into area of 19th century warehouses, workshops, which now characterise the area.

Unity Street also retains a back-land character, derived from the collection of warehouses and light-industrial buildings surviving on its northwest side. Built off the back edge of the pavement, these 2-3 storey buildings have a robust character, which vary in age but display a dominant material palette, typically rubble stone and red engineering brick.”

We have met the architects for a preliminary meeting, with representative of Bristol Civic Sociey, Dings Community Association and VBRA.

The proposed designs which are available at this link have been strongly determined by Bristol City Council Conservation team’s advice to the developer.

We believe that further thinking could enhance the scheme and our initial ideas are summarised in the these slides.

 We are collecting comments, so please email your ideas to oldmarket.future@gmail.com

Again thanks to the Neighbourhood Planning Network for coordinating the community involvement in planning in the City of Bristol.