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City centre buildings razed for offices and shops

Marcus BootheBristol
News imageBBC A green crane tears into a half-destroyed large building. Two trees are in the foreground and a tower with scaffolding is in the distance.BBC
The demolition site is on the edge of Castle Park in Bristol's city centre

Three large derelict buildings in a city centre are finally being demolished to make way for office blocks, independent shops and restaurants.

The St Mary Le Port development on the edge of Castle Park in Bristol was approved by the city council in 2021 despite local concerns that it would "overwhelm" the old city area – including St Nicholas Market.

The site will include a nine-storey office block and and two eight-storey blocks. As part of the redevelopment, St Mary Le Port church tower will be restored, following damage sustained during the Bristol Blitz in 1940.

Developer MPEC said it had carried out "a lot of community engagement" to ensure residents' views were taken into consideration.

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The three buildings being torn down are Norwich Union House, which was used by an insurance company, Bank of England offices, and an associated administrative building called Bank House.

The project will surround the St Mary Le Port church tower, which is set to be reopened to the public.

The site was heavily bombed by German air forces during World War Two.

It eventually became a car park before being leased to the Bank of England and Norwich Union in the 1960s.

Following the redevelopment approval, Bristol Civic Society called for a public inquiry to look into its concerns about the plans. The government denied this request.

News imageFEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS/MPEC Design drawing of three large modern office buildings and a church tower between them. People are walking in front of the building and sitting in a park. FEILDEN CLEGG BRADLEY STUDIOS/MPEC
An artist's vision of the office blocks, independent shops and restaurants that will replace the old buildings

However, campaign group Friends of Castle Park, which had objected to previous plans to redevelop the site, told the Bristol City Council planning committee in 2021 that the proposals would "protect" and "enhance" the park.

MPEC commercial director, Roz Bird, said: "We've done a lot of community engagement and made sure we've taken into consideration what Bristolians would want to see here.

"It's about bringing it alive, opening it up and making the connections between St Nick's Market, Castle Park, the Floating Harbour and Wine Street – and for it to be a really inviting place."

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