Planning application submitted for Bristol Zoo Gardens site

Published by

Nicky Godding

Bristol Zoological Society has submitted a planning application for its Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton.

The society announced last year that it planned to sell the 12-acre site, to help fund the creation of a new Bristol Zoo at its Wild Place Project, which will have conservation at its heart.

The plans include building around 200 new homes, located mainly in areas where there are already built structures. Homes will range in size to encourage different generations to live there, and 20 per cent will be affordable.

Dr Justin Morris, Chief Executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “This is an important milestone and an exciting step forward for the future of Bristol Zoological Society.

“We are confident in our plans and proud of the ambition and quality of the design proposals we have submitted.”

“Importantly, these plans will secure the site as a vital community asset, so everyone can enjoy its beauty and heritage for many years to come.”

https://www.businessinnovationmag.co.uk/bristol-zoo-is-to-close-and-sell-off-its-city-centre-site-and-move-to-south-glos/

The new Zoo will offer bigger spaces that more closely reflect the animals’ natural habitats. In addition, 80 per cent of species will be linked to the Society’s conservation work, more than any other zoo in the UK.

The Zoological Society has led the planning application for the sale of the Clifton site to ensure it protects the legacy of the gardens, and to secure the future of the charity.

Under the plans submitted, it intends to make the gardens in Clifton accessible to the public for free, for the first time since the site opened to the public in 1836.

It also plans to preserve and protect its historic features, such as the Monkey Temple and the former Bear Pit, for future generations to enjoy.

Much of the gardens will remain unchanged, with improvements to the lake, the creation of a new, free nature-inspired play area, and space for community events in the existing Terrace Theatre building.

A new cafe and exhibition space will be created in the Zoo entrance building which will be available for cultural, educational and community events.

The full planning application for the Bristol Zoo Gardens site can now be viewed on the Bristol City Council Planning Portal.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.