Bristol City Council has approved a significant student accommodation project, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s regeneration efforts.
- Watkin Jones secures planning for a 10-storey student housing development, adding 484 beds in Bedminster.
- This project is part of Bedminster Green area’s broader regeneration initiative.
- The scheme will convert a disused brownfield site into a vibrant student community.
- Watkin Jones previously faced challenges due to prior, denser development proposals.
Bristol City Council’s decision to approve the new student accommodation project by Watkin Jones signals a significant step forward in the ongoing regeneration of the Bedminster Green area. The scheme aims to convert a disused brownfield site, once an engineering works and foundry, into a 484-bed student housing complex. This development reflects the council’s commitment to revitalising underutilised areas to enhance the city’s appeal and functionality.
The newly approved project consists of three buildings ranging from six to ten storeys, strategically designed to provide managed residential spaces for students. It underscores Watkin Jones’s expertise and vision in developing purpose-built student accommodations, a sector in which they have established a strong presence. This approval marks Watkin Jones’s third active project in Bristol, highlighting their continued investment in the city’s development landscape.
The Malago Road development is a key component of the Bedminster Green regeneration plan, an initiative aimed at revitalising several hectares of South Bristol. It exemplifies a collaborative effort between the developer and the council, following extensive negotiations over two years. Watkin Jones argued for this project’s potential to inject much-needed vitality into the area while maintaining respect for its historical context.
While previous development proposals for the same site encountered resistance due to their height and density, Watkin Jones’s adjusted plans were more favourably received. The developer’s commitment to working closely with city planners helped navigate these challenges, enabling the project’s alignment with local development goals. Ben Wrighton, Watkin Jones’s head of planning, expressed the company’s excitement and anticipation to bring the project to fruition.
The newly approved student accommodation project by Watkin Jones is poised to play a transformative role in Bristol’s urban regeneration.
