Bristol Zoo Project Bristol zoo project news 2024
- Thread starter Charles
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ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
With the last Government, objectors would need very little if any grounds to hold up and delay projects. The new Governments promises are just that, so far at least.
In my opinion Bristol should have scaled down the zoo (and its costs) in the city on its small, pretty town-park site, keeping it as an income source, and continued the development of Wild Place as an when it could be afforded - keeping both open.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
They’d like the development of housing stopped and the site returned to being a zoo, a garden or a virtual reality zoo vs housing. None of the proposals seem to have much merit or an actual plan in mind but they can air objections and they’ve clearly been effective in doing so to establish a need for a review.
The development can’t proceed now as an application for the judicial review of the councils decision will need to be processed. If the application to have one is approved it’ll follow that or it may be rejected. This link explains about JRs. Until that process concludes nothing will progress. It doesn’t impact the new site in planning terms.
Judicial review - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
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They want a 'different' sort of development, though I'm not sure from this what it is. As to slowing down development at the newer site, the longer it is before the Zoo can sell the old site, the longer major developments will be delayed at the 'Project' site.
They have apparently given up on the idea of it being returned to being a Zoo. They also acknowledge the society needs the funds from sale of the site to advance their plans at the newer site, but still seem bent on delaying things.
From the artists' impression of the planned development, its interesting to see which parts of the old Zoo would be retained under the current planned scheme for housing. From what I can see they are much as I had expected;
1. The Old Main Entrance and Twin Lodge houses.
2. The Restaurant building facing the West lawn, and presumably the one facing the East Lawn too.
3. The old Victorian Giraffe House- now Gorilla house.
4. The Monkey Temple(?)
5. The Lake and Lawns as they are now.
Not sure about the Aquarium/bear pit building but presumably listed as it is. Or the old Bird House and Offices in the centre of the Zoo.
1. The Old Main Entrance and Twin Lodge houses.
2. The Restaurant building facing the West lawn, and presumably the one facing the East Lawn too.
3. The old Victorian Giraffe House- now Gorilla house.
4. The Monkey Temple(?)
5. The Lake and Lawns as they are now.
Not sure about the Aquarium/bear pit building but presumably listed as it is. Or the old Bird House and Offices in the centre of the Zoo.
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Charles
Well-Known Member
So the old Forest of birds building and offices are being renovated back to their original state so the add on where the first aid building was will be removed
the Aquarium will be returned as close as possible to the original bear pit look
these are visible on the original plans on the Bristol council planning portal
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Indeed and the application for a JR is a bit of a time waster for many planning applications as the JR considers only whether something was done correctly and process followed, not whether it is 'right'. It would be a bit surprising to find something had been done incorrectly in terms of process and even if that was found, it would really only return to be done again and the outcome is not likely to be different. The JR doesn't make a new decision (the campaigners appear to think it does, perhaps they need to google). The delay appears to be a real driver vs a positive outcome. There are also timing limits on JRs in regard to planning and it appears in this case that time may have passed. First step is whether the application to review is even granted. All the time, the clock just extends.
Is this not the same argument they had before and that ended in a heap of sandbags? The worst proposal to me was some kind of plastic animal zoo or dino park.
How long might this appeal delay the sell off in Bristol?
Second: How high is the demand for housing and acute need for new housing in Clifton and central Bristol?
I can't answer your first question, maybe someone else can.
I imagine being a big city the demand for housing is high in Bristol, even in an expensive area like Clifton (it is easily the most expensive part of Bristol). I imagine these properties would go like hot cakes if the development goes ahead. 20% of the development is supposed to be affordable housing i.e. lower cost and so less expensive to buy. But there might be other issues afoot too, such as parking for the increased number of cars, excessive noise or misuse/overuse of the open space areas. I read somewhere there would be parking areas and an access road which would further reduce the conservation areas such as the lawns and/or old zoo flowerbeds( these are quite historic too). Another objection is the number of trees that will need to be removed though the Society have said that all the higher grade/preservation order ones will be saved and even the lowgrade ones planned to be taken out would be replaced with a higher number of new and better ones.
Personally this development as it is seems to me a sensible use of the site and sympathetic with the old zoo landscape, but then I don't live in Clifton.
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Charles
Well-Known Member
Bird breeding success at Bristol Zoo Project! - Bristol Zoo Project
Species spotlight: Critically Endangered Negros bleeding-heart dove - Bristol Zoo Project
2 of the recent articles on the BZP news page, the Negros bleeding heart dove article is worth a read
Species spotlight: Critically Endangered Negros bleeding-heart dove - Bristol Zoo Project
2 of the recent articles on the BZP news page, the Negros bleeding heart dove article is worth a read
Just in case you don’t know, one of your cheetahs, Brooke, who moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park last year, became a Dad in May. He and his partner, Darcy welcomed 2 little boy cheetahs. They are now exploring their enclosure under the supervision of Mum and enchanting visitors with their antics.
Charles
Well-Known Member
Visited for the first time In a couple of weeks
small updates have been made such as new recycling bins around the site which look very fresh
didn’t see the Socorro dove and there still isn’t signage saying it’s in there, it still says it on the website so I am hopeful that the signage is going to come soon and the Socorro dove was just hiding
this is the best picture I could get as there are large fences now, this is roughly where the crocodile and parrot house will be and since my last visit they’ve started the foundation, also it appears they’re digging the moat as well
Mary (the ostrich) is back on the nest so still hoping there may be some autumn ostrich chicks
had a lovely feel and the new base camp has definitely helped visitor numbers
small updates have been made such as new recycling bins around the site which look very fresh
didn’t see the Socorro dove and there still isn’t signage saying it’s in there, it still says it on the website so I am hopeful that the signage is going to come soon and the Socorro dove was just hiding
this is the best picture I could get as there are large fences now, this is roughly where the crocodile and parrot house will be and since my last visit they’ve started the foundation, also it appears they’re digging the moat as well
Mary (the ostrich) is back on the nest so still hoping there may be some autumn ostrich chicks
had a lovely feel and the new base camp has definitely helped visitor numbers
Attachments
I visited for the first time today.
Bear Wood is very impressive. An immersion exhibit by default. I like how open the place is about future plans and developments on information boards. I can though understand and appreciate why most zoos don't do this. Being this open will create more marketing and PR work for them if plans change or are delayed (which is almost inevitable somewhere down the line).
I found the zoo's layout interesting with stretches of woodland between exhibits. I wonder if the idea all along is to give it a woodland feel or at some point they will fill in the gaps.
I will definitely return when the Central African Forest exhibit currently under construction is open. That sounds very interesting. I presume this development will connect the path near the red panda to the one between the giraffe/zebra paddock and lemur walkthrough. It is a bit of an odd dogleg to get to the red river hog, walled garden and red panda seeing as you have to retrace your steps to go to the rest of the zoo.
Bear Wood is very impressive. An immersion exhibit by default. I like how open the place is about future plans and developments on information boards. I can though understand and appreciate why most zoos don't do this. Being this open will create more marketing and PR work for them if plans change or are delayed (which is almost inevitable somewhere down the line).
I found the zoo's layout interesting with stretches of woodland between exhibits. I wonder if the idea all along is to give it a woodland feel or at some point they will fill in the gaps.
I will definitely return when the Central African Forest exhibit currently under construction is open. That sounds very interesting. I presume this development will connect the path near the red panda to the one between the giraffe/zebra paddock and lemur walkthrough. It is a bit of an odd dogleg to get to the red river hog, walled garden and red panda seeing as you have to retrace your steps to go to the rest of the zoo.
[QUOTE I presume this development will connect the path near the red panda to the one between the giraffe/zebra paddock and lemur walkthrough. It is a bit of an odd dogleg to get to the red river hog, walled garden and red panda seeing as you have to retrace your steps to go to the rest of the zoo.[/QUOTE]
Yes, these areas will be reconnected.
Yes, these areas will be reconnected.