A judicial review challenging Bristol City Council’s approval to develop 200 new homes on the former Bristol Zoo site in Clifton begins today, Wednesday, May 7, at Bristol High Court. The legal action is brought forward by the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, a campaign group opposing the mixed-use residential project approved in 2023 for this historically significant location.
Bristol Zoo, established in 1836 in Clifton, is a landmark institution with global recognition. In 2020, the Bristol Zoological Society announced the closure of the Clifton site in 2022, relocating the zoo’s focus to a new out-of-town facility near Cribbs Causeway, known as the Bristol Zoo Project, which opened to the public in 2013.
Following the zoo’s closure in spring 2023, the Society obtained planning permission to build approximately 200 apartments around the gardens’ perimeter. This plan includes creating a publicly accessible park and maintaining a ‘visitor hub’ within the building that previously served as the zoo’s administrative offices and entrance.
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The Save Bristol Gardens Alliance has vigorously campaigned against the development, raising thousands of pounds via crowdfunding to fund this legal challenge. In October last year, a High Court judge granted permission for the judicial review to proceed.
The hearing, which commenced today, may extend through Thursday, May 8, with the judge’s decision anticipated in the coming weeks. In a statement on May 4, the Alliance expressed confidence in their case, stating, “As we face the full hearing next week, we believe we could not have prepared a stronger case.” They affirmed their commitment to continue opposing the development regardless of the verdict, advocating for an alternative plan that benefits all residents of Bristol.
Meanwhile, the Bristol Zoological Society emphasizes the necessity of the funds from selling the Clifton site to housing developers. The revenue is essential to support the ongoing development of the Bristol Zoo Project near the city outskirts. However, the judicial review has led to delays in both the sale and the proposed housing construction.