Article: published on 8 March 2024

Two landmark buildings in Bristol will be demolished and turned into housing after controversial plans were approved by councillors.

The Premier Inn hotel and the NCP car park in Rupert Street will now be torn down and replaced with two schemes involving student accommodation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Both plans attracted complaints and opposition but were voted through with developers saying the buildings had reached the end of their useful life and would be too expensive to refurbish.

The Premier Inn will be demolished, and two blocks will replace it, a 28-storey tower of 422 student bedrooms and an 18-storey tower of 142 co-living rooms.

The larger one would be the tallest building in Bristol. The height of that tower proved controversial with many people objecting to the plans, particularly as it stands next to a Grade-I listed church.

Developers Olympian Homes said the area around the buildings will be vastly improved, particularly for passengers leaving the adjacent bus station, including with a new public square.

Mark Slatter, chairman of Olympian Homes, said: “This development would replace a very tired building with what we hope will be the most elegant tall building in Bristol, helping relieve the pressure on wider family housing stock."

He said it would also provide 26 affordable co-living homes for key city workers, including those employed at the nearby Bristol Royal Infirmary.

The car park, next to the Bridewell Police Station, is a classic example of 1950s Brutalist architecture, and some people had campaigned to get the building protected.

Developers Pegasus Group now have permission to replace it with a new car park, as well as 328 student beds and 249 co-living studios with 20 per cent of the co-living studios in both developments being “affordable”.