'Disappointment' as Turbo Island sold to unknown buyer

The land has been used by high street drinkers and homeless people for a long time as a place to congregate

An infamous plot of land in Bristol has been sold to an unknown buyer just hours before it was due to go to auction.

Estate agent Hollis Morgan has confirmed Turbo Island, in Stokes Croft, has been bought for £100,000 - double its guide price.

Stokes Croft Land Trust (SCLT), which has led efforts to preserve the space as a community asset, said it is "disappointed" by the news.

"We hope to be able to work with the new owners of Turbo Island in making sure this iconic and important public square continues to be an invaluable community space in Stokes Croft," it said.

The land is currently owned by London-based advertising company Wildstone.

“A local buyer has come forward with an acceptable offer to purchase our land at 72 Stokes Croft," they told the BBC.

"As a result, we are withdrawing the site from auction, pending the completion of due diligence and legal processes.

"Should everything proceed as expected, we will move to exchange contracts.”

'Turning point for gentrification'

The news of the sale comes a day after SCLT made an urgent plea to landowners Wildstone to take Turbo Island out of commercial auction, after its offers for a community purchase were rejected.

The group said it is concerned any future development could be a "turning point for the gentrification" of Stokes Croft, after Wildstone submitted a pre-planning application for a four-storey building on the space.

"We are disappointed we did not have the opportunity to bid at auction the funds we raised from the community," a spokesperson for SCLT said.

"We want to thank everyone who donated, pledged funds and participated in the campaign to @save.turbo.island, and believe in the importance of community ownership," they continued.

Other campaigners, including residents, have been campaigning for village green status for the land, which would impose limits on any proposed development.