Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey Zone 4

Bath Road A4

Sandy ParkRoad

Talbot road

Bath Road A4

4 – Kensington Park

Keywords/phrases: residential, hills, topography, opportunity

Summary

Kensington Park area has the usual range of eclectic Brislington residential styles and also has some fine examples of late Edwardian dated Victorian-style terracing commonly found within other parts of Bristol.

There is an abundant amount of green space and some good interlinking roads, which are well serviced by local bus routes.

There are some exceptional development opportunities that should be clearly identified and defined for use within the Community Plan so as to ensure the most sustainable development and use of the land and spaces, these included potential for park and recreational facility, park-sided and cooperative mixed-use housing schemes and even a rapid transport or inspiring nature route on the old rail network.

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 east Bristol, which are primarily enjoyed by private housing.

Once again the A4 splits this area in two with mostly residential development to the south and mixed residential and industrial warehousing to the north.

1. 493-499 Bath Road

No pending planning applications

Previous planning applications 97/00095/P

Current Land use allocation A1/B8

The former Co-op site and old Woolwich building site, currently under offer to a private developer. This could be a strategic site in the spatial regeneration of Brislington.

This large industrial site situated on the busy A4 has extensive land to the rear and is an excellent residential and retail opportunity. It overlooks the Arnos Court Park on the opposite side of the road and has road access to the rear on the right hand side, this access road is also used by the nearby retail unit on the corner and lockups situated behind.

2. Hampstead Garage Ltd

No pending planning applications.

Previous planning applications Previous Applications

Current Land use allocation: Derelict - unknown

Another excellent development opportunity with the potential to provide much needed local services in the form of a sensitive pedestrian focused mixed-use residential/retail scheme.

The garage is located between the end of the Runswick Road terrace and Arnos Court Park. It is currently derelict and vandalised and detracts from an otherwise pleasant residential and recreational area.

3. Former Brislington Station Land

No pending planning applications.

Previous planning applications: Previous Applications

Current Land use allocation: unused - cleared - unknown

There have been numerous planning applications made for developing this brown-field land, all have been refused by delegation or committee. The last one being for residential development in 2005.

It has been suggested in the Brislington interim Action Plan report that this land could be used as rapid transit/tram solution. There is also suggestion that it may be earmarked as a new relief road for Brislington part of the south Bristol ring road, and recent road developments would appear to confirm this assumption.

Careful consideration must be given to maximise this huge piece of land to ensure a sustainable development is achieved, whether as a natural or built environment.

Presently the land is strewn with litter, bottle, cans and vandalism.

4. Corner Shop Kensington Park Rd

One of the few local corner shops within Brislington, many having been lost to residential development.

5. Kensington Park Ind Est

No pending planning applications.

Previous planning applications: n/a

There area only two local shops to cover this large residential area one traditional corner shop-newsagent the other a spiritual relaxation therapy service.

To the north east of this zone we find Kensington Park Industrial Estate with Focus DIY and MFI amongst some smaller retail/industrial units. Huge areas of land have been designated to car parking which was considerably under used at the time of the survey (14th Feb 2pm)

6. St Christopher Church

No Photo

No pending planning applications.

Previous planning applications: 94/02515/F

7. Restricted access to park and vista

No pending planning applications.

Potential for community access to publicly owned allotment land. This land could be transformed into park or recreation facilities offering fine views over East Brislington and beyond.

Photo shows entrance, allotments, Tesco superstore and hospital below.

8. Covered Reservoir and swimming pool

No photo

No pending planning applications.

Architecturally interesting water tower and well-maintained reservoir in Knowle ward.

Local community Jubilee swimming pool

St Gerard Majella Catholic Church.

The Knowle Hotel and public bar

9. PDSA Animal Hospital

The local PSDA animal hospital providing a much sought after service for south Bristol. The site was once the location of a grand mansion house but this was demolished and the site was redeveloped in the 80’s to provide the current facilities in what remains of the stable blocks and outhouses.