Our Vision

SCAN recognises that Bristol desperately needs housing - and we really want the site to be used. We are actively PRO-DEVELOPMENT - but it’s got to be the right one for our community and for Bristol as a whole.

Any future development must reflect the heritage and history of this special site, now legally protected as an Asset of Community Value, as well as reflect the characteristics of the neighbourhood.

That means future plans should include some form of SEND provision, protect the environment and the townscape of Westbury Park - and not bring extra traffic to our roads and clog up our streets with parking.

Above all, any development should be LOW RISE, LOW DENSITY & LOW IMPACT.

Everyone in the community will have their own opinion about how the site could be developed, but here’s an insight into some of the cares and concerns of the neighbourhood;

A socially wise and environmentally responsible vision for St Christopher’s could honour the legacy of SEND provision delivered on the site to families across Bristol for the last 70 years, meeting a real crisis in specialist education needs and placing.

At the same time a high quality development could provide desperately needed homes without compromising the largely 2 storey nature of the neighbourhood or overdeveloping the site with high buildings.

A sensible design would prevent nearby streets from being overwhelmed with extra traffic and increasing existing parking chaos. Residents are keen to protect their roads from any more additional traffic as the narrow streets surrounding the site are already under huge pressure and almost permanently clogged, as well as often inaccessible to emergency vehicles. A wise development should not increase the safety risks to pedestrians, particuarly to those trying to use the crowded pavements - the walking corridors to the local primary school need to be protected from further illegal and dangerous parking.

Any future plan could protect the valuable green space, mature trees and wildlife so this green lung at the heart of our community can be enjoyed by everyone who lives locally - especially our children.

SCAN has worked very closely with the long-established Westbury Park Community Association (WPCA) and we have each developed a planning brief to guide future developers of the site. This document has now been submitted to Bristol City Council as well as Savills, who are the agents marketing the property. We hope all potential bidders will consider these broad, overarching guidelines carefully and prioritise genuine community consultation in any future planning application so they able are listen to and respect the varying views of those who live here.

You can find out more about our planning brief HERE