Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey Zone 2.2

Callington Road

Bath Road A4

Hungerford Road

2.2 – Hungerford Estate / Retail park / Green Fringe

Bristol CC Land Use Map Allocation

General Impression and initial observations

This area has a very strong identity, clearly identified on the Local Plan as industrial, green fringe and residential.

Although the area is predominantly occupied by light-industrial and commercial buildings there is a distinct lack of public services and refreshment outlets. The only services within walking distance are the McDonalds outlet, a small café situated within the industrial park, and two banks.

The well used ‘park and ride’ development within the cities green belt boundary is arguably a good example of how to use new land in a positive and sustainable way.

Looking away from the industrial park there are some attractive places of interest tucked away on the green fringe and a fantastic opportunity for development on the eastern fringe of Victory Park along the Trading Estate

Topography

The busy A4 Bath Road cuts the site diagonally from NW to SE and is an impenetrable barrier to pedestrian movement across the whole of the site. There are no pedestrian crossings along the fringe between the two retail zones and as a result local retail and permeability suffers.

The natural topography runs downhill from the south towards Bristol City Centre with pedestrian crossings located at the junctions to the north (bottom) and south (top) of the road.

1. St Brendans 6^th From College

To the west of the busy Broomhill road lies the Brislington Trading Estate and to the east the green space occupied by St Brendans R.C Sixth From College which is presently pending development on planning application ref - 07/00226/LC

The College has extensive playing fields and green space surrounding a miserable 60/70’s development.

2. Park and Ride

The last major development within the south east of the ward boundary is the seemingly successful (nearly full on the day of the survey) Park and ride scheme built on the Greenfield land that constitutes the edge of Bristol’s green belt.

3. Brislington B.E.C.

To the south of this area zone we find the Brislington Comprehensive School, this currently has planning permission for the erection of a new campus and grounds within the existing boundary and will be known as the Brislington Enterprise College or BEC. The approach to the campus is through a council built estate and is confusing to locate to a newcomer. Current planning application is (05/04856/M). The location of the school is good being within the statutory greenbelt of the city however its proximity to local services such as shops, food outlets or bus stops is unusual. The closest food outlet is McDonalds opposite the bus stop.

4. The Hungerford Estate

The Hungerford estate is a council built estate and has a distinct local character and potential charm. It is linear in formation with a couple of small crescent loops that stem off the main street.

The housing on the southerly side of the Hungerford road, situated between the two crescents on the estate, overlooks a small valley that joins the Knowle Golf Course and the housing here enjoy some exceptional green space vistas.

5. Hungerford Community Centre

Although there are no community services or amenities the area has its own community centre and Christian fellowship meeting room. This is a hostile looking building with run down plastic fencing surrounding the perimeter and a tired and worn 70’s façade. An excellent site for potential development of green space, pub or retail development as the site backs onto the Retail Park and publicly owned DWP buildings within. This site could therefore offer improved access to the estate (certainly by foot) and improved facilities and amenities (shops, food outlets) for the local community, the retail park staff and its customers.

6. Private ‘walled’ development

Towards the west side of Hungerford Estate on the land previously occupied by the Courage Sports ground there is a private walled development which is totally out of character to the rest of the estate. It is relatively anonymous in design style and typical of housing design of the mid 80’s.

7. Hungerford Industrial Estate

Double Glazing, Burglar alarms and Security Systems and Packaging manufacturers.

8. West town Close Shops

The busy West Town Lane (B3119) coming from Hengrove, is a mix of 1930’s (1935) housing, and the only local independent retailers and amenities within this area are a row of shops offering the following services to its locale, Solicitor, printing services, DIY (x2), newsagent (off licence) and takeaway food (Sunday carvery).

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9. McDonalds and Barclays

The corner of Emery Road and the industrial park, at this junction we find a Barclays Bank and McDonalds outlet. This part of Brislington is poorly serviced by food and retail outlets, these are the closest facilities for the children and staff of the BEC and the industrial estates to the north.

10. Brislington Retail Park and Flowers Industrial Park

The Retail Park is effectively split in two by the busy A4 road heading to Bath.

To the south of the A4 is the Brislington Retail Park and Flowers Hill Trading Estate, which has been designed for vehicular access with little consideration given to pedestrian movement and accessibility. It is occupied by the following companies Matalan, B&Q, Carpetright, Halfords, Maplin, Comet, Furniture City amongst others. 500 car park spaces.

Towards the rear (south) of the site there exist a number of Government Offices used by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

On the north side we find access to the park is once again focused to car owners and pedestrians are given a secondary consideration. The southern edge is isolated from the A4 by a range of public retail units predominantly car sales rooms which again are aimed at vehicular access as opposed to pedestrians. There are no obvious access routes to the industrial estate behind for cars or pedestrians.

11. Lidl’s

Lidls retail at the top of the village.

12. Land plot

Vacant land close to conservation area. There appears to be some development work being undertaken behind the trees, but no planning permission found. This work may be related to the sewer/water improvements currently be undertaken on the West Town Lane – A4 junction (Feb 2007)