“Mixed response” to housing proposals for Broadbury Road
Residents attended an open evening to show plans for 47 affordable homes in Broadbury Road last week – with many expressing concern about loss of green space and extra traffic.
The event was held by Curo at Broad Plain House Social Club on 3 July for local people to view plans for 25 houses and 22 flats and maisonettes .
The development will be 100 per cent affordable with most available to purchase through a Shared Ownership Scheme and ten to be let on social rent.
Plans have been changed so the social club and skittle alley can still remain for local people to use but the playground will be going.
But some residents living near the site were worried about the impact on wildlife if the field behind Broad Plain was developed.
Mum of two Michelle Clegg (37) from St Whytes said: “…When we bought our house we were told we had back access and right of way across the field
“There’s now going to be no back access and we’re going to be overshadowed by buildings when previously we had a field and wildlife… it’s all going to go so it’s a bit disappointing…
“We liked the fact we weren’t overlooked, my children have got autism and it will increase noise levels and traffic and it will make my son more anxious…”
Matt Williams (39) and his wife Rhian (35) from Leinster Avenue have two primary aged children and were also worried about the loss of natural habitat for the bird population.
Matt said: ” I know it looks like derelict land underused by people but not by nature… My children wake to the dawn chorus every day. That’s what sold the property to me….
“It is part of the garden city principle – the area was built to have these green spaces…”
And Rhian felt that two of the homes on the edge of the development appeared to be “squashed in” – and if these were removed there would be space for “a play park or wildlife area.”
Lyn Capel (70) from Leinster Avenue said she had “mixed feelings”
She said: “Putting all those houses you will have even more people up here with cars but we haven’t got public transport…”
But Technical Manager at Curo, Simon Hewitt said at the event there had been a “mixed response” and other residents had felt having homes built at the back of them might make their houses “more secure” and help avoid “anti-social behaviour”.
Curo Communications Manager Valentina Warren said plans would be refined after resident feedback and they would take “comments and suggestions” on board.
She said: “…We have put effort into making sure local people are engaged…Generally people are happy about having new homes – you can’t build new homes and have green space at the same time.”
Curo had been working with Broad Plain House and Bristol City Council to produce the development proposals and the site had been allocated in the council’s local plan.
A traffic consultancy would also take place as a requirement of the development to ensure each junction was safe.
The Knowledge contacted Curo for a full response to the comments but has not yet received one.
People can have their say online until 17 July and once plans are submitted to Bristol City Council at the end of August will have three weeks to make comments.
To view the plans visit https://www.curo-group.co.uk/broadbury-road
