Here you'll find frequently asked questions about Castle Court, including the site, scheme design, car parking, sustainability and lots more.
The site
SNG owns the land and acts as landlord to the current businesses. The businesses are relocating and SNG has worked with them to facilitate the site redevelopment.
There will be a reduction in employment floorspace, however, the design of the proposals incorporates new flexible floorspace at ground floor level for commercial uses which are likely to provide new employment opportunities.
New jobs will also be created throughout the demolition and construction phases, and the introduction of new residents will help support existing jobs at local shops and businesses.
The scheme will also create jobs within SNG – the scheme will require additional Housing Management, Community Officer and Property and Estate Management resources. SNG also intends to provide an onsite caretaker. The planning application will include consideration of the net impact on employment.
Scheme design
We will continue to engage with the public and consider comments as the design evolves. Consultation that has already taken place has been carefully considered and taken on board.
Sovereign intends to provide an onsite caretaker who will be able to assist with a variety of day to day management issues.
As part of the scheme’s design development we will work closely with Secured by Design (SBD) an official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit. Our scheme will incorporate their input.
Access and movement
The only vehicular access into the proposal will be from St Philips Causeway, using the existing access. The layout has been designed to ensure that pedestrians and cyclist permeability is provided around the scheme. As part of engagement with residents of Edward Road and Chatsworth Road, we are exploring pedestrian/cyclist connections into the scheme from these roads.
Planning policy seeks developments to reduce reliance on the private car, so the proposals have been designed to reduce the need for new residents to own a car. The development would be in walking distance of many services and facilities and for longer trips, there is excellent access to bus facilities. Sovereign is also committed to providing electric/hybrid car club facilities. Located on a cycle path into the City Centre, the development will provide in excess of policy requirements for cycle parking.
Here you'll find frequently asked questions about Castle Court, including the site, scheme design, car parking, sustainability and lots more.
Car parking
We will ensure sufficient parking is provided in line with Bristol City Council’s Planning requirements. All family homes will have their own dedicated parking space.
We know that there are already Council managed residents parking zones on Edward and Chatsworth Roads, and private management arrangements within Paintworks. The site is in a sustainable location, with strong public transport links and a number of amenities and facilities within walking distance.
It is intended that the scheme’s location means that residents will not be reliant on a car, although will have access to electric/hybrid car club hire facilities within the development.
The development will provide electric vehicle (EV) charging to all parking spaces provided to individual houses/maisonettes. EV charging will be provided to apartment spaces however further analysis of final design will be required. The new Building Regulations Part S aims to future proof homes and buildings via the installation of charging points for electric vehicles. Our development will comply with these requirements to help us achieve our Sustainability targets.
For multi-residence buildings, drop off bays for deliveries will be provided close to residential entrances.
We are looking to exceed Bristol City Council bicycle requirements for residential developments. For each multi-residence buildings a dedicated secure cycle store room will be located at ground floor, next to the building entrance for convenience. Family homes will have their own dedicated cycle store located externally by their front doors.
Public realm
We envisage a rich mix of open spaces will be provided as part of the new development. These will include a focal Gateway Square that responds to the Paintworks steps and the Sparke Evans footbridge connection, a central green community garden and smaller spaces distributed across the site at key nodes or entrance points. Maintenance of these public spaces will be carried out by the estate management and a high-level landscape maintenance and management plan will be prepared to support the planning application to inform the basis of future maintenance plans.
To bring the big idea to life through the creation of green fingers, we envisage significant new green open space will be provided as part of the scheme and this will include new tree planting alongside a rich, multi-layered, resilient and wildlife friendly planting palette. Tree planting species will be considering taking into account native palettes, local context and climate resilience.
While the design is in an early stage, a sustainable drainage strategy is a key driver of the emerging landscape scheme. Vegetated raingardens with diverse and wildlife friendly plants can be used to contribute to the site’s surface water management and we are currently exploring how these make become a central part of the landscape design.
Vehicular access is an important part of a successful and well-functioning scheme and our key objective is to create a streetscape that is green, active and a safe environment for the community. Streetscape will be designed as a low speed environment that is welcoming to pedestrians. Tree planting, raingardens, detailing of the surfaces and street furniture will all contribute to the creation of human-focused spaces. The site layout will be legible and clear for all users, to remove potential conflict points and provide safe circulation for all.
Protecting existing natural assets and wildlife and enhancing the site’s ecology is one of the main pillars of the landscape strategy and the big idea that inspired the scheme. All components of the landscape including lighting strategy and activity levels will be designed with great care to ensure local wildlife is protected as much as possible. Habitat features will be integrated within landscape and will be informed by a site-wide ecology strategy which can include bird and bat boxes, insect hotels and green corridors for the wildlife.
Community uses
We have incorporated flexible floor space on the ground floor in parts of the proposal. This could be occupied by cafés, workshops, small offices and other commercial and community uses. Public squares within the scheme will be accessible to the community.
Sustainability
SNG is committed to environmental sustainability and intends to adopt a fabric-first approach to sustainability, by ensuring that buildings are insulated and passively cooled to reduce the need for the use of energy. Solar panels and heat pumps are currently being considered to ensure that the energy used in the development comes from sustainable and renewable resources as much as possible.
Construction
It is proposed that the material in the existing buildings will be reused for use on site for the construction of roads and hard standings. All timber/metal will be recycled by the demolition contractor.
Property management/maintenance
Local Infrastructure/facilities
We have incorporated flexible floor space on the ground floor in parts of the development. This could be occupied by cafés, workshops, small offices and other commercial uses, including healthcare. At present, no healthcare provider has expressed interest in occupying this space.
A new school at Silverthorne Lane has recently been granted planning permission and it is anticipated that this will be open by the time that this scheme is developed. The proposal will provide a substantial amount of money to the Council in Community Infrastructure Levy payments which the Council could invest in providing new school places or facilities.
Other
During our public consultation in summer 2022, we asked neighbours, key stakeholders and the wider community to give us their views on the emerging proposals and these views are being considered.
We will be engaging further with the community later this year to provide an update on the proposals being submitted for planning approval. A community liaison group has also been set up representing local residents and stakeholders in the community.