FPA Highlights 221 New Flats In Bristol Approved Despite Of Serious Fire Safety Concerns

A development for three new blocks of flats near Totterdown, Bristol, United Kingdom (UK) has been approved despite serious fire safety concerns.

Housing developers - Donard have been granted permission to construct 221 flats over three blocks between York Street and Mead Street, two of which will be 11 storeys tall. The third tower, however, has only one escape route, and is at the centre of calls for a design overhaul.

Council planning officers

The apartments form a part of the wider Mead Street development project, which is planning to construct around 1,500 new homes in the area.

The development brief was signed off by the council earlier in August after a significant delay

The development brief was signed off by the council earlier in August after a significant delay, which could have an influence on forthcoming planning applications for the area.

Both local residents and council planning officers pushed for the plans to be refused by the development control committee ahead of the decision being made on Wednesday 24 August. However, as reported by Bristol 24/7, ‘councilors said the need for housing outweighed the issues with the designs.’

Single escape staircase

The HSE have highlighted the need for changes to the current designs, due to fire safety concerns. One block currently will only have a single escape staircase, which is reportedly in breach of fire safety standards.

Despite the fact that the planning has been approved, council officers have said that the current designs could be altered to address the fire safety concerns without making a new application to the council. Building control will also need to sign off the new build’s safety before potential residents could move in.

Fire safety concerns

Residents and councillors are also against the proposed builds due to a lack of windows

Residents and councillors are also against the proposed builds due to a lack of windows in the apartments, giving residents a limited amount of natural light, and disruption to the views and character of the area.

To the latter point, Jonathan Bethel of POD Architects, said: “The simple fact is you can’t build much in this particular location without impacting on those views.”

Reactions to the news have been mixed, with the development control committee voting six to three in favour of the plans. Mayor of Bristol, Mavin Rees, tweeted that he was ‘delighted’ that the homes were approved for construction.

Compliant and a lovely design

John Geater, a Councillor for Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston, said: “My concern is if we refuse this, what will happen is we’ll get a reduced height in a planning application that comes back, so that it gets around all the design rules and the places will be bigger. But there’ll be 10 percent affordable housing because they’ll knock off all the affordable housing in order to make it compliant and a lovely design.”

Ed Plowden, a Green Councillor for Windmill Hill, said: “When you’re reliant on things like shiny paint to get your light levels up, I don’t think that’s great. I really worry about the quality of accommodation for people who will be living here. This has been rushed through and there are loose ends about whether it’s safe to live in.”