Plans to deliver hundreds of new primary school places in south Bristol have been submitted by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as part of proposals to transform a former college site.

The HCA has submitted an outline planning application to Bristol City Council which sets out ambitions to deliver a new school alongside a mix of homes, community facilities, business and employment space at its site at Marksbury Road, Windmill Hill.

The application follows extensive work with the council and its partners to shape the blueprint for the scheme and includes proposals for:

•A 420 place primary school, based within the college building fronting onto Marksbury Road, which would be partially refurbished to accommodate the facility.

•Up to 85 homes, including 15 ‘self build’ plots which form an early pilot of projects to be delivered through the HCA's Custom Build initiative.


•Up to 900 sq m of employment space based within the former college engineering block.

•A new health centre and pharmacy, which would be delivered with support and investment from local practices.

•Improved pedestrian and cycle access to the Northern Slopes.

If supported by planners, this proposal would address the need for extra primary school places in the Windmill Hill area, which was identified by the council earlier this year. Current projections suggest that around 420 extra places will be needed locally by 2014.

HCA Head of Area David Warburton said: "We have worked closely with partners and listened to local residents over a number of years to develop an exciting and comprehensive vision for the regeneration of the former college site. This is an important project because it is about so much more than bricks and mortar. If supported, it would deliver the key building blocks that underpin a strong community, including new homes, investment, job and training opportunities, community facilities and hundreds of extra school places. There is a lot of work that still needs to be done to deliver this project and we remain committed to working with partners and local people to turn their vision for this site into reality."

The council's planning committee is expected to consider the application by the Spring. A detailed planning application for the school and the appointment of a developer partner through an open tender process would follow this decision later in the year.

(CD/GK)