The strategic sites delivery committee of South Gloucestershire Council has approved plans for 421 student beds in two six-storey buildings on Coldharbour Lane at the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Frenchay Campus. The decision comes amid ongoing concerns from residents about parking pressures in the surrounding neighborhoods.
UWE enforces a strict ‘no car policy’ within a two-mile radius of campus, prohibiting students from parking locally as part of their housing contracts. Yet, councillor Ayrden Pocock (Lib Dem, Stoke Park and Cheswick) voiced skepticism over the policy’s effectiveness at the committee meeting. He noted that both students and staff regularly park on nearby residential streets, reducing available spaces for local residents, and fears this new development will worsen the situation by further limiting on-campus parking.
Cllr Pocock, while supportive of the development itself, urged the council and university to implement a long-term parking solution. He suggested introducing a residents’ parking zone similar to the successful scheme in Bristol’s Lockleaze area, highlighting that such a permit system currently helps mitigate parking conflicts.
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Local residents have echoed these concerns, with some calling for a comprehensive overhaul of parking management in the area to protect neighborhood parking availability.
A planning officer indicated that a residents’ parking scheme falls outside the scope of UWE’s current planning application but confirmed ongoing discussions between South Gloucestershire Council and the university to address parking challenges. The officer also stated that the new student accommodation is unlikely to increase parking demand significantly, as residents of the new blocks are expected to avoid traveling off campus by vehicle.
Concerns were also raised about the provision of disabled parking spaces. Councillor Mike Bell (Labour, Staple Hill and Mangotsfield) criticized the limited number of disabled bays planned—only one for every 200 students—calling for better accessibility to ensure students with disabilities are not deterred from attending UWE.
While the planning officer recommended approval, some councillors remained cautious. Cllr Mike Drew (Lib Dem, Yate North) questioned claims that on-site housing would reduce demand for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) nearby, arguing that popular HMOs closer to campus would remain in demand, particularly in Cheswick and Stoke Park.
The committee report emphasized that the development aligns with a more sustainable approach by reducing off-campus travel for students and should not negatively impact local traffic. The report acknowledged concerns from the council’s landscape officer regarding the height, overshadowing, and design of the new buildings. However, these were deemed minor, and UWE’s design choices were considered justified without compromising the project’s benefits.
Overall, the report concluded that the benefits of providing sustainable, on-campus student accommodation outweigh any potential drawbacks, marking the development as a positive addition to the district.
UWE’s planning agent, Ed Flood, explained that the project supports the university’s strategic goal to house all incoming students on campus. UWE plans to increase its student population from 33,000 currently to 42,000 by 2030, with further growth expected thereafter. The new blocks will replace the former Mallard House and reduce parking spaces by 198, which is part of a broader campus expansion that has already added 900 student bedrooms at Carroll Court. The development will also feature a new central public square and a proposed amphitheatre, enhancing the campus environment.