CSJ PLANNING and CSJ BROOKE SMITH

Submission of Applications for the University of Bristol for the Departments of Biological Science and Mathematics

Jeremy Bladon, Julie Laming and Debra Harrison have submitted a suite of four planning applications, a Conservation Area application for the demolition of unlisted buildings and two listed building applications to Bristol City Council for proposals to create over £80 million-worth of academic and research facilities and laboratories for the University of Bristol's Departments of Biological Sciences and Mathematics.

The proposed development comprising 21,163 sq.m GIA of new floorspace will be built on part of the old Children's Hospital site on the corner of St. Michael's Hill and Tyndall Avenue. It will provide two state of the art, 21^st century academic and research Departments designed by Sheppard Robson Architects and will sit within a quality external realm, as designed by Nicholas Pearson Associates, which will include the creation of a new route into Royal Fort Gardens from St Michael's Hill and the continuation of University Walk.

Over the past year, the University and its project team have involved the local community and key stakeholders in a series of consultation workshops and public exhibitions to help shape the emerging proposals. In December this pre-application consultation concluded with an exhibition of the final scheme just prior to submission.

Commenting on behalf of the University's project team Jeremy Bladon, of CSJ Planning Consultants, said: "This is an important project for both the University and the city as a whole involving redevelopment of a predominantly derelict site in a sensitive location to provide state-of the- art academic facilities. The preparation of this application is the culmination of over a year's ongoing planning and design work which has involved invaluable input from the local community, University staff and students and other key stakeholders."

Following the demolition of two unlisted buildings and a boundary wall on the former Children's Hospital site, consent for which was secured by CSJ over the summer of 2008, the University has appointed local archaeologists BaRAS to carry out a full archaeological investigation to establish the extent and location of the remains of the original Royal Fort building. The archaeological excavation and investigation work will start in early February and is due to be completed by the end of March 2009.

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