Deal sees Bristol City Council buy former RM sorting office

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Multi-million pound deal sees Bristol City Council buy former Royal Mail sorting office


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A city eyesore, which has lain derelict for more than 17 years, is finally a step closer to being redeveloped.
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Bristol City Council has announced it has bought the former Royal Mail sorting office next to Temple Meads station.

The multi-million pound deal means the council can progress its plans to revamp the disused site on Cattle Market Road into waterside offices and homes.

Bristol's Mayor George Ferguson said the acquisition was a game changer and part of a more ambition plan for the area including the new nearby arena, which is being built.

He said: "For years I have been ashamed of this disgraceful eyesore that greets visitors to the city arriving by train.

"Since taking office at the end of 2012 I have been determined to deal with a situation that has been out of our control.

"Now that at long last we have ownership of the site we can plan more holistically alongside our plans for nearby Arena Island.

"Together these two sites have the potential to transform this crucial area behind Temple Meads and stimulate the development of St Philips Marsh."

The council is keeping tight-lipped over how much the sorting office cost.

However, it decided earlier this year that a £5.425 million grant from the Department of Communities and Local Government should be used to buy Arena Island.

That decision meant cash previously earmarked for Arena Island could be spent on buying the sorting office.

The site, which has been empty since Royal Mail moved to Filton in 1997 was sold for £2 million in 2000.

In May 2008 it was bought by Kian Gwan Land Limited for £5.3 million.

The crumbling sorting office building has long been an object of embarrassment for the city - particularly as it is how the city is greeted by those arriving in Bristol by train.

The city's 12-000 seat arena will create up to 400 jobs and the development of nearby sites, including the sorting office, could bring a further 2,300 jobs to what is set to become the enterprise zone.

The purchase of the sorting office could mean better connections to Temple station, a proposed pedestrian bridge from Arena Island and links to a proposed floating pontoon cycleway and walkway from Temple Quay to Totterdown Basin.

Mr Ferguson added: "We now need to take time to think about the future of this area, alongside the arena planning application which is due to be submitted at the end of the summer.

"We must make sure that the plans for the arena and this site work together to create a vibrant new mixed use development and that the consultation process takes this fully into account."

The 2.1 hectare site was described by David Cameron as making the "entrance to the city look like a war zone".

The site contains two large interlinked disused buildings – a 1930's sorting office and an adjoining 1970's office building.

Chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, Colin Skellett, said: "This is great news, creating the opportunity to redevelop the worst site in Bristol.

"Acquisition of this site creates the opportunity to transform the area and provide a new vibrant entry to the city and enterprise zone."

In 2005 planning permission was granted for the site to be turned into flats, workspaces and offices, but the work never progressed.

The same year Bedminster teenager Daniel Jones fell 20ft through a glass roof at the site.

The council had previously made attempts to buy it through a compulsory purchase order.