The future of a long-stalled planned Harbourside development is in doubt after funding for the flats fell through. For many years apartments have been planned for Redcliffe Wharf, but hope is fading that the construction will start any time soon.
The empty plot of land, next to Redcliffe Caves and the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge, used to be home to a boat building firm, and then a roller disco. While some demolition work took place in April, it’s unclear when – and even if – construction will ever be completed.
The developer has struggled with funding the scheme, and a joint venture company was recently dissolved. The development is now thought to be unviable, with no definitive timescale for when it will be finished.
Bristol City Council is now reviewing its options for the next steps on the site. The saga was brought up during a meeting of the member forum, when leading councillors were asked questions about issues throughout the city. A written answer revealed the financial issue.
The plot of land has been left empty
(Image: Alex Seabrook)
Labour Councillor Kye Dudd said: “This is a very important site. This has been going on for a long time, almost 10 years now. We’ve clearly got a partner here who’s failed to deliver and now it looks like they’re not in a position to deliver any more.”
The council entered into a legal agreement with the developer in 2015. Planning permission was granted in April 2021 for 45 flats, almost 6,000 square metres of offices, restaurants, and 12 new moorings. In 2022, the council forked out £516,000 of public cash to help the developers relocate a Victorian water main, for demolition and remediation work, and to prepare the site.
Green Cllr Tony Dyer, leader of the council, said: “All the options are on the table. This scheme has been [going on] a long time — they got planning permission in 2021. We have 16,000 homes with planning permission in the city.
“Many of these are being delivered, some of them are still subject to Section 106 agreements. But there are quite a few like these, which are not coming forward. One of the things I got elected on was seeing if we can find a solution to those.”