Plans approved for Bristol Harbourside flats despite flood risk
Developers have agreed to help fund new flood defences
Plans have been approved for 166 flats on a site at Bristol’s Harbourside, despite it being at major risk of flooding.
Developers have agreed to help pay towards new flood defences for the River Avon which should, in theory, protect future residents.
Goram Homes, owned by Bristol City Council, now has planning permission to build 166 homes at the Baltic Wharf caravan club on Cumberland Road, next to the Cottage pub.
The homes will be spread across six blocks, from four to six storeys tall.
The development control A committee voted to grant permission on Wednesday, April 24, after hearing from several local residents concerned about the risk of flooding as well as the loss of trees. Developers insisted the flats would be safe from flooding, including safe means of access.
Ann Hughes Devereaux said: “If Baltic Wharf is approved at this meeting it will be the first time a development in the highest flood risk zone, without any means of escape for residents or access for emergency services, has ever been approved in Bristol.
“This precedent will seriously undermine flood safety, as it will be virtually impossible to refuse permission for any other such dangerous sites in future. Flooding kills more people worldwide than any form of natural disaster. There will be a risk of death for residents and emergency services.”
The Environment Agency initially objected to the plans due to the risk of flooding, but recently withdrew its objection. Goram Homes has agreed to contribute funding to the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy, although it’s unclear how much.
According to planning officers, access to and from the flats should be safe from floods until 2070, as climate change means floods are predicted to be more frequent and severe. But, the new Avon flood defences should hopefully have been built by 2036, reducing the risk of flooding.
Not all of the funding has yet been found, however, to build these flood defences, with over £100 million still to be identified. Another concern about the development is the plans to chop down 82 of the 101 trees in the area.
Developers said they would plant 68 new trees on site and 10 nearby, and pay the council for 150 new trees to be planted elsewhere. But it’s not known when or where these trees will be planted.
Of the 166 flats, 40 per cent will be designated as affordable. These include 50 flats classed as social rent, which means half the market rate, and 16 classed as shared ownership. Council bosses have previously promised that 100 per cent of the new homes could be classed as affordable.
Christina Makariou, from Goram Homes, said: “On any given night, around 3,000 people are homeless, many in temporary accommodation. We must provide high quality homes in central Bristol that will house people for generations to come.
“The development is safe and the Environment Agency has removed its objection. We’ve kept as many trees as we can while making space for much needed new homes. We’ll plant 220 new trees too.
"If not here, where?”