Homes plan for former Bristol Zoo site on hold

The proposal includes 196 new homes and would see trees removed and replanted

Plans to develop 196 new homes on the site of a former zoo have been put on hold.

The homes were set to be built at the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site, but an application for a judicial review of Bristol City Council’s decision to approve the scheme has been submitted.

Campaign group Save Bristol Zoo Gardens, which applied for the review, said the plan would create "horrendous" environmental "destruction".

Bristol Zoological Society, which owns the site, said it believes the application "has no merit".

Campaign group Save Bristol Zoo Gardens launched a petition against the development in 2022

The application includes 196 new homes, of which 20% would be affordable, a new public park that will see the gardens accessible for free, a new café, playground and conservation hub.

About 80 of 218 trees on the site would be removed. Of those being removed, 44 would be replanted and 470 new trees would be planted.

Both Bristol City Council and Bristol Zoological Society said they have taken independent legal advice.

In a statement the society said the development would bring "much-needed" housing for Bristol.

Tree protection orders

"We remain confident in our plans and genuinely believe this is the right thing for Bristol," it said.

"[We] will robustly defend against this application for a judicial review, which in our opinion has no merit.

"With regards to the trees on site, to protect the most important trees like the monkey puzzle tree, the society has put in place 29 tree protection orders, and the design of the buildings has been carefully planned to protect tree roots."

Campaign group Save Bristol Zoo Gardens launched a petition against the development in 2022, which received over 10,000 signatures.

A Save Bristol Zoo Gardens spokesperson said it understands Bristol Zoo Project's financial reasons for pursuing the plans, but says the scheme "is just plain wrong".

"Thousands of Bristolians objected to the plan to destroy the gardens for luxury flats and the strength of the opposition has not gone away," they said

"Bristol has been misled throughout this planning process - the promise of public access is shaky at best, and the so-called ‘affordable housing’ may well never be built.

"The environmental impact of the development - and remember the Zoological Society is a conservation charity - is horrendous."

The campaign group claims the application involves removing "almost half" the trees on the site and "ripping out" flower borders.