Plans revealed to open Bristol Zoo's gardens for free after zoo closes
The Bristol Zoological Society has announced the news today saying "it's clear" Bristolians want to keep access to the site
Last updated 15th Nov 2021
The boss of Bristol Zoo says he's delighted to announce the gardens at their Clifton site will open to the public for free, after the zoo itself closes next year.
Plans are being developed by Penoyre & Prasad architects alongside the Bristol Zoological Society to build residential houses on the site when the Zoo moves to Cribbs Causeway, but there's been widespread calls for the gardens to remain untouched.
Following consultation with nearby residents it has now been confirmed the gardens will remain open.
"Free access to the 185-year-old gardens, a new, publicly accessible children’s play area and a new Clifton Conservation Hub and café, are included in plans being put forward by Bristol Zoological Society for the future of the 12-acre site," a statement from the Society reads.
"The plans will also ensure the site’s historical buildings are protected and include a mix of sustainable, high-quality, much-needed housing with the same level of space for people and nature as today."
When the Clifton site closes as a zoo at the end of 2022 many of the animals will be moved to what is currently the zoo's sister site Wild Place Project at Cribbs Causeway.
That will then be renamed as the new Bristol Zoo.
Dr Justin Morris, Chief Executive of Bristol Zoological Society, said: “Bristol Zoo Gardens will be more accessible than ever before. Bristolians and visitors to the city can come and enjoy the gardens, play area, lake, natural wildlife, and heritage buildings.
"After occupying the site for 186 years, we’ll create a legacy for Bristol Zoo Gardens, making it free for the public, while protecting and improving the lives of the amazing animals in a new world-class Bristol Zoo.”
Sunand Prasad, co-founder of Penoyre and Prasad, the architects leading the design for the site, added: “Bristol Zoo Gardens has a fantastic heritage, a wonderful landscape, and a special place in people’s hearts. The proposals reflect this.
"They provide beautiful public spaces and much-needed homes, in harmony with the natural world.”
Planning permission to build homes on Bristol Zoo's west carpark has already been granted, but a planning application for homes on the site of the zoo itself is not due to be submitted to Bristol City Council until next year.
The latest draft masterplan shows up to 235 new homes will be created of which 20% are proposed to be affordable homes. The homes are planned to be a range of sizes to encourage a multi-generational community.
New life will be given to the gardens’ existing historical features, such as the Monkey Temple building, which will be protected for future generations to enjoy.
The iconic Zoo entrance building will become the Clifton Conservation Hub - a public café with indoor and outdoor seating, exhibition space, education and meeting spaces, and home to the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project.
It will be the Project’s base from which they will run courses, walks, talks, school events, play schemes, and holiday activities.
The current theatre building on the main lawn of the gardens will also be retained, providing cultural and educational talks, workshops, and seasonal events.
The second phase of a consultation on the plans is underway, with a public event planned at the Zoo's Clifton Pavilion tomorrow (16 November), before an online event on 23 November.
A third public consultation will take place in early 2022 and include an artists’ impressions of the homes.
The Bristol Zoological Society plans to sell the site to developers once all planning permission has been approved.
The Zoo's plans for housing though, is not the only idea on the table.
A campaign group called OurWorld Bristol, which has received backing from prominent people including former Bristol mayor George Ferguson and broadcaster professor Alice Roberts, wants to turn the site into "the world's first augmented reality zoo".
Calling Bristol "the Hollywood of natural history film-making", the group says the Clifton site would be the perfect place for people to interact with the animal kingdom in "undreamt ways".
The concept, which has been developed by Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris OBE and the Eden Project's professor Michael Deplendge CBE, would see virtual reality technology like headsets used to create animal encounters, educational experiences and immersive art installations.
They claim visitors would be able to take an "ants eye view" of the world, fly with bees and travel 850 million years back in time.
You can read more about the idea here.
Dr Justin Morris has told us however, that he does not believe such an idea would be sustainable.
"We don't believe that Bristol Zoo Gardens as a large visitor destination is viable in the future, both for operational and financial reasons.
"We have met with representatives from the proposal that you're referring to and like anybody they will have an opportunity to bid to purchase the site when it comes on the open market at some point towards the end of next year.
"But we're confident that in order to safeguard the future of our charity, the best future for Bristol Zoo Gardens is this residential led scheme because it will enable us to raise sufficient funds, not only to invest in the new Bristol Zoo and animal habitats that are of a better quality and larger size, but also to significantly increase our investment in conservation and education and certainly on the back of COP26 I don't think any of us can be in any doubt that it's important that we do that.
"What this is really all about is saving wildlife and we continue to feel very strongly that the plans that we're bringing forward are absolutely the right ones."