A Beer Factory in Bristol could be turned into a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme, to include accommodation for 103 students alongside shops and workspace.
The company has outgrown the premises and is moving its brewing operations and its tap room to another site.
Plans have now been submitted to Bristol City Council to demolish some of the buildings to create three new buildings of two-, three- and four storeys for PBSA, one of which will have retail or commercial uses on the ground floor.
“It is highlighted that only the ground floor of the building has been used for brewing by Bristol Beer Factory. As such, the upper floors of the building remain vacant space for adhoc incidental storage and are consequently in an increasing state of deterioration.”
Planning application, Pegasus Group
Proposals also include the repair of the dilapidated, locally listed Brewery tower to convert it into workspace.
In planning documents, the firm’s agents – Pegasus Group – said the Brewery tower was in an increasing state of deterioration’.
“Bristol Beer Factory has continued to successfully expand its range and scale of production to the point where the company can no longer continue to operate effectively from the current premises at North Street. The extent of this growth has placed considerable pressure on the business.
“Bristol Beer Factory are therefore in the process of transitioning to enlarged and improved premises elsewhere within South Bristol, which will allow them to retain their current workforce, expand further with associated creation of additional jobs and increasingly reinvest in the local community.
“In order to assist in facilitating this, Bristol Beer Factory intend to dispose of their current premises with outline planning permission for mixed-use redevelopment, having previously secured planning permissions for residential conversions of part of the site.
“Notwithstanding, Bristol Beer Factory wishes to retain a presence in the area through the highly successful tap room, and through the sensitive redevelopment of the site.”
Planning application, Pegasus Group
Ferguson Mann Architects said the Brewery tower would be returned to its ‘former glory’ and retained for employment use. Although the tower is not a listed building, it is recognised as a locally valued building as per ‘The Bristol Local List September 2020 – Fifth Edition’.
This List was adopted by the Local Authority in October 2015 and is a collection of heritage assets that are not protected in law as Listed Buildings, Scheduled Ancient Monuments or Conservation Areas.
“The upper levels of the Brewery Tower are derelict and the structural condition of this building renders it unusable.
“The Brewery Tower is in such a poor state of repair with severe structural problems that it is uneconomic to retain without the financial benefit of adjacent new development. This outline planning application proposes to convert and restore the Brewery Tower for workspace use.
“The Brewery Tower could be demolished without the need for express authorisation, and there would be a compelling case for doing so given its current condition. Notwithstanding, the applicant has proceeded with a scheme centred on the refurbishment and re-use of the Brewery Tower in recognition of its local significance.”
Planning application, Pegasus Group
