'Rising costs' Developer bids to cut number of affordable homes at site

THE future of a plan to build 221 apartments near Temple Meads hangs in the balance due to rising costs and new fire safety rules. Three years ago developers were granted planning permission to build the apartment block, but no construction has begun on the development.

- Alex SEABROOK Local democracy reporter

Donard Homes now say that construction costs have gone up so much since then, they can't afford to build as many affordable homes as they previously promised. Instead of building 66 affordable flats, they are applying to Bristol City Council for permission to make 25 affordable. The development is on the corner of York Road and St Luke's Road, on an empty plot of land.

When councillors on the development control committee voted to grant them permission in 2022, they did so because of the promise that 30 per cent of the homes would be affordable. That was despite the concerns of planning officers about the lack of daylight in many of the flats.

After waiting three years without starting construction, the developers now say that building costs have risen. New fire safety rules also mean they have had to change the plans, so that future residents would have a safe way of escaping the building in the event of a major blaze.