Plans to transform a run-down shopping centre in Bristol have been rejected by the city council for a second time, according to the BBC.
Developer Firmstone had planned to turn St Catherine’s Place shopping centre into high-rise flats, shops, offices and a cinema.
However, the planning inspector upheld the initial decision from 2020, ruling the scheme was poorly designed and would have an adverse impact on the area.
In his ruling on 19 February, planning inspector David Wildsmith said the plans would not be of a high quality design and would have caused loss of daylight to neighbours, primarily in Catherine’s House.
There was also concern the proposal would fail to provide any guaranteed affordable housing and would have an adverse effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
Councillors are now expected to approve scaled-down plans later this week.
The decision follows a six-day public inquiry in January over the £50 million regeneration of the site in East Street, Bedminster.
The scaled-down proposals feature three buildings for flats up to 14 storeys high, with some in converted shop space.
The new design is set to be decided by the council’s planning committee on 4 March 2021.
(Image: Firmstone) Artist’s impression of how St Catherine’s Place courtyard would have looked under now-dismissed plans
