Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey Zone 3

Callington Road

West Town Lane

3 – South West Brislington

Keywords/phrases: fragmentation, cul-de-sac, inaccessible green fringe, open space development, isolated estates, impermeability.

Summary

The area has an abundant amount of cul-de-sac’s, 13 on this one map alone. Inaccessible green-space fringes and isolated housing estates and very few amenities or services that are sustainable or accessible by pedestrians.

For such a small area there is an incredible mix of housing styles ranging from many individual in-fill sites to large swathes of developments covering most of the post war styles and eras, with the odd Bristol Victorian terrace style dotted in between.

As shown on the map above there is a considerable amount of green space in this area however much of it is inaccessible to the public as private housing backs onto it or it is privately owned (Knowle Golf course).

There are an inordinate number of back alleys and what appear to be public footpaths that circumvent these areas but with little consideration given to the safety and well being of their users.

On the Local Plan the land is mostly allocated as housing although a new Tesco superstore occupies a large swathe of land to the North West and a new hospital has been built in the least densely occupied part of the valley.

Topography

Typical to this part of Bristol the land is hilly and steeply sloping in parts. This has created some very strong vistas and viewpoints across North and West Bristol, which are primarily enjoyed by private housing.

The brook divides many of the developments, but instead of being used as an asset to create wonderful pedestrian walks or even vehicular link bridges it has become an obstacle to permeability and created isolation. Lined by narrow badly lit footpaths and strewn with litter, parts of it have become an eyesore and a hazard.

1. Callington Road Hospital

Planning application ref - 06/00435/X

Callington Road Mental Healthcare Hospital (NHS) was developed on land allotment allocation land. To the north (back) of the site is the remaining well-kept allotment land, which is heavily protected by a tall industrial looking fence, which backs onto the remaining allotment land.

On the periphery of the allotment and the situated between Tesco and the allotment, again protected by a vandalised wooden fence, we find an intimidating alleyway.

2. Talbot Road Allotments

Talbot Road allotments Alleyway between Tesco

Two high fences bound the alleyway between Tesco and the allotments, an industrial pointed steel fence surrounding the allotments and a vandalised wooden fence on the Tesco boundary. It is poorly lit and must pose an intimidating walk for lone pedestrians.

3. Land behind Tesco

Land to the north 05/00485/P

Tesco planning application 04/02694/F

Neighbourhood and Housing Services own this property which occupies a large amount of land and although appears to be in reasonable condition.

1. Tesco superstore

Recycling facilities Tesco ‘superstore’

Tesco planning application 04/02694/F

4. Whartons Housing Development

Whartons Housing Development Sheltered community housing

No planning applications currently pending for this site.

Whartons Social Housing: Neighbourhood and Housing Services own this property which occupies a large amount of land and although appears to be in reasonable condition.

It is accessible by two roads running parallel north and south of the site.

There is an interesting development to the south east of the Whartons development. It appears to be sheltered housing for the elderly and appears to be an unusual housing design possibly from the 80’s, contributing to the ‘Brislington mix’ of housing styles.

There is a community facility located within this development and is still owned by N&HS and could be worthy of protection as this type of facility is becoming rarer to find.

5. West Town Lane Football Club

Culture and Leisure Services (C&LS) own this building and the surrounding land. It has fallen into dereliction and is an eyesore on the fringe of a good green space close to the Brook. The site offers great vistas of Flowers Hill to the rear and is an excellent candidate for protection by sensitive mixed-use community development.

It does however fall into the electoral ward of Stockwood but is worthy of mention due to the land directly to the north of the site still in the park and within the boundary of Brislington and currently owned by BCC.

6. Private Housing

Planning application ref 01/01105/M

This private development was built in 2001 and borders the Bears Bridge sports ground. Although reasonably well designed there is absolutely no green space or vegetation within its boundary.

It has turned its back on the Brook to the north although a small path does exists along parts it is underused by the community. The brook and housing layout consisting of mainly cul-de-sacs is difficult to navigate by foot and impermeable.

7. West Town Lane Primary School

No pending or previous planning applications found.

However given the traffic problems experienced on the surrounding main roads particularly the A4 through Brislington a well designed local through road or pedestrian route for local traffic to the hospital and Tesco store may alleviate the need for local people to use these roads.

8. Housing in West Brislington

There are 13 cul-des-sacs in this area which makes it a very frustrating area to survey by foot and an impermeable area in general for the local community.

9. Knowle Golf Club (1905)

Privately owned development that borders the green fringe.