Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Plans for uni library and public plaza thrown out
PLANS for the University of Bristol’s flagship new library and a public plaza have been thrown out by councillors.
Members branded the proposed nine-storey building that would replace The Hawthorns, on the corner of Woodland Road in Clifton, a “monstrous carbuncle” and voted by 5-4 against accepting officers’ advice to grant permission.
The city council’s development control committee decided that the design, road safety concerns and the impact on the surrounding conservation area were unacceptable.
But because that was contrary to the recommendation to approve, a report has to come back to members’ next meeting with suggested reasons for refusal that could withstand a planning appeal.
The development would have included a public square, shut Woodland Road to general traffic between Tyndall Avenue and St Michael’s Park, and make St Michael’s Park one-way eastbound from Woodland Road to Osborne Villas.
A two-way cycle track would have been created through the pedestrianised area, along with two raised pedestrian crossings in Elton Road and a ‘bus hub’ in Tyndall Avenue.
It received objections from 176 residents and organisations including Historic England, Bristol Grammar School, Kingsdown Conservation Group, The Victorian Society and The Christmas Steps Arts Quarter, as well as 142 letters of support.
The controversial application had been withdrawn from the committee’s agenda at the eleventh hour in September so officers could carry out more work to assess the impact of proposed road closures.
Although that work has been completed and the council’s transport department remains satisfied with the scheme, the local authority is now developing a policy to create liveable neighbourhoods across the city with measures to improve walking and cycling, such as traffic bans on rat-runs.
Bristol City Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Kye Dudd, told the committee on Thursday night the proposals required a traffic regulation order (TRO) which could not be considered in isolation.
He said: “The design of the building only works with the point closure on Woodland Road, and it is highly likely a TRO for that will only be authorised if it’s brought forward as part of a wider scheme.”
A planning officer told the remote meeting that the proposed building, which includes two floors below ground, replacing The Hawthorns – a former hotel used as student accommodation, catering and offices – would not overshadow the grammar school’s great hall.
But he said it would “dominate” that historic building as well as others in the Whiteladies Road Conservation Area.
Cllr Richard Eddy said: “I’m concerned about the pedestrian safety.
“The closure of Woodland Road and part of Tyndall Avenue will put a huge amount of traffic on Elton Road.”
He said the brutalistic design was “quite ugly”.
“I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but with excess massing it does remind me of the words of Prince Charles who talked about plans as being a monstrous carbuncle,” he added.
“I hope we don’t repeat that mistake.”
Cllr Olly Mead said the building itself was fine, but in the wrong place, and would dominate the area in a “very negative way”
Cllr Mike Davies said: “It’s a great building. It looks to be a world-class library, and I like how they’ve got some attractions for the general public.”
Cllr Stephen Clarke said: “The building is Marmite. I like Marmite, I happen to like the building.
“I really love the way the ground floor is left open to the public. That’s a very innovative idea.”
The library would have housed 420,000 books, 70,000 journals and the university’s special collections and theatre collection and had 2,000 new study seats and research space.
Professor Judith Squires, deputy vice-chancellor and provost at the university, said: “We are disappointed that the planning application for our new university library has been deferred.
“We will continue to work closely with Bristol City Council to address the issues raised by the planning committee.
“We are grateful to everyone for their input and support throughout the planning process and we remain committed to building a world-leading library for the benefit of our students, staff and wider community.”