• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Friday June 16 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Flats plans for Bristol’s Debenhams site unveiled

Plans to demolish the Debenhams building in Bristol city centre, along with two buildings either side of it, and replace them with blocks of flats have been unveiled by developers.

The proposed new buildings would house 514 apartments, with the key building in the development reaching 28 storeys high. Commercial units would occupy the ground floors.

The companies behind the scheme – real estate companies AEW UK and Savills working with architects AWW and Churchman Thornhill Finch – say the project create a pedestrian green route from the Bear Pit – the centre of the busy St James Barton roundabout outside the former department store – and Castle Park, the city’s historic centre.

It would also allow better access to the Broadmead shopping centre.

The building, originally opened as Jones department store in 1957s and taken over by Debenhams in 1972, has been vacant since Debenham’s went bust two years ago.

The companies said refurbishing and converting proved financially unviable, as the building design did not lend itself to the creation of additional storeys.

The proposed development has been named Barr’s Street after the ancient thoroughfare that was lost during the post-war redevelopment of the area, which had been extensively bombed.

Latest: Plans to build Bristol’s tallest building to be decided next week

Latest: What does future hold for iconic Bristol office block, for sale for first time in 20 years?