Harbourside landmark is now a listed building
ALANDMARK building on Bristol Harbourside has been awarded Grade II listed status. Canons House, right, which joins more than 200 listed structures in the city, was handed the recognition by the Government on the advice of Historic England.
The news comes six months after Lloyds Bank announced it was putting the property up for sale after deciding to move from the building.
The bank has owned Canons House since 1990 but is relocating thousands of staff to another site overlooking the floating harbour in the second quarter of 2022.
In October, Lloyds said it was discussing the sale of Canons House with Bristol City Council to see if there were occupiers, developers or investors who would be interested in investing in the redevelopment of the building.
But now the property has been listed, the new owners will face restrictions if they wish to redevelop and will need to apply for special consent.
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: “Our plans remain unchanged and the building will be put up for sale soon.”
Canons House was built as a regional headquarters for Lloyds Bank between 1988 and 1991 after the bank took the decision to relocate its retail banking functions to a single site outside of London in 1986. Arup Associates were commissioned as architects.
According to Historic England, the building played an “important role” in the post-industrial regeneration of Bristol’s docks as a thriving recreation and cultural centre. Historic England has said the building is an “accomplished example” of postmodern architecture, a style widespread between about 1975 and 1990. Postmodernist buildings are characterised by their engagement with context and setting, reference to older architectural traditions and use of symbolism, the heritage body said.
Rebecca Barrett, regional director at Historic England, said: “People in Bristol and beyond will know Canons House, whether they worked there or have enjoyed an event in its amphitheatre.
“Listing recognises the importance of its public function, and celebrates the way it draws on Bristol’s rich architectural heritage, and its waterfront surroundings, to create a 20th century landmark.”