MHCLG throws out plan for 380,000 sq ft of retail and leisure at Bristol mall
Plans by Intu, M&G and JT Baylis for a major extension at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol have been thrown out by the Secretary of State on the grounds that it would damage surrounding town centres which are already struggling.
The developers had contended that the huge number of new homes planned for South Gloucestershire would create demand for the new space but the planning inspector rejected this argument in favour of the established sequential test which favours town centre development over out-of-town sites.
The developers wanted to extend the existing 730,000-sq ft mall with an extra 380,000 sq ft of retail space including a new anchor store as well as almost 100,000 sq ft of leisure space, 150 new homes, a 120-bed hotel and a new bus station.
The decision will be welcomed by Hammerson, which has plans of its own to extend Cabot Circus in Bristol city centre, proposing 790,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space plus an 85,000-sq ft hotel on the Callowhill Court site.
