Bristol Zoological Society reveals sale of Clifton car park
A developer will now look to build 62 new homes on the site
Last updated 20th Jun 2023
The Bristol Zoological Society has sold one of its now empty car parks at the Bristol Zoo Gardens site to a housing developer.
In a statement the Society says the West Car Park in Clifton, which has been out of action since September 2022 when Bristol Zoo Gardens closed, has been bought by the Hill Group.
The Society says they will now look to build 62 homes on the site, 20 per cent of which will be affordable, for which planning permission has already been granted.
Justin Morris, Chief Executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “Our journey to develop a progressive conservation zoo at Wild Place Project has moved a significant step forward, with the sale of the West Car Park in Clifton to the Hill Group.
"The sale follows Bristol City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for West Car Park at the end of last year.
"An application for a judicial review on the decision was refused, which means planning permission for the site is now beyond challenge."
The plan to build homes on the former zoo site has been passionately criticised by some including former Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, but Dr Morris says the society wants to leave a legacy at the site "that we can all be proud of".
"The Hill group have developed a high-quality housing proposal for our former car park, which delivers this, and provides sustainable, much-needed homes for Bristol of which 20 per cent will be affordable," he said.
“With our planning application for the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens also approved by Bristol City Council, it is great to see the progress being made on the redevelopment of this historically important location."
Using the money made from such sales, the Society plans to transform Wild Place Project near Cribbs Causeway into the new Bristol Zoo Project.
It will be officially renamed as such from later this summer.
The first phase of construction to expand the new zoo will start next year and will see a "central African forest" area created, where the gorillas currently still being held at Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton, will be moved.
Also in the new area will be endangered cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys in an immersive woodland exhibit, endangered African grey parrots, critically endangered slender-snouted crocodiles and a rare species of west African fish.
Around 80 per cent of the animals housed at Bristol Zoo Project will be endangered, the Society says.
Savills, who acted for Bristol Zoological Society in the sale of the West Car Park in Clifton, will be marketing the Bristol Zoo Gardens site later this year.