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.
Any development should be LOW RISE, LOW DENSITY & LOW IMPACT.
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 overwhelming the streets with extra traffic and parking chaos. It could protect the valuable green space and mature trees 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 community principles very carefully and listen to and respect those who live here.
You can read the full planning brief HERE but in summary, proposals must :
Comply with Bristol City Council planning policies and aims.
Respect the ACV status of the land and include proposals that will benefit children with special educational needs.
Adhere to sound urban design principles
Avoid adverse impacts on Grace House
Avoid adverse impacts on properties adjacent to the site
Avoid adverse impacts from additional car parking and traffic on surrounding streets
Respond to the current global climate and ecological emergencies
Ensure the site is not overdeveloped
Together with the WPCA, we will continue to campaign for the community to have much more say over the future of the site.
