Former dementia care home to make way for 26-house development in north Bristol

A former care home which provided 44 bedspaces is set to be demolished and made way for 26 new family homes. The Humphry Repton House care home, in Brentry, was closed in June 2022 and has been left vacant ever since.

The former care home, in north Bristol, provided specialist care for people suffering with dementia. Out of the 44 bedspaces available, 43 beds were for a permanent placement and one was for respite care. The care home closed on June 21, 2022.

Plans were submitted in December 2023 to demolish the existing buildings on the site and build 26 family-sized homes. These consist of 11 three-bed homes and 15 four-bed homes, set over two storeys, with some of these extended into the roof space creating an additional half storey.

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Access to the development would involve a T-shaped road which reuses the access point to Thornfield Road. At the northernmost end of the access road, a pedestrian link will be formed to the existing Public Right of Way to connect the site.

All properties would have dedicated parking and there will be four garages. In total, 52 car parking spaces will be made available, two spaces per property.

The care home, with an existing floorspace of 2,664 sqm, was judged to have been “left to decay and fall into a tumbledown state” according to the affordable housing statement. However, planning permission was only given after an appeal was lodged by the developers, Woodstock Homes.

In 2024, no decision on the project was made by Bristol City Council, and an appeal was launched late last year. On November 15, the appeal was approved and planning permission was granted.

The appeal decision said: “The Council failed to determine the application within the required timeframe. A detailed assessment of the scheme, including putative reasons for refusal, was however provided in response to the appeal.

“The Council’s objections related to the absence of adequate information regarding biodiversity net gain and on-site wildlife, and the failure to secure contributions towards affordable housing, fire hydrants, and an employment and skills plan. Following the submission of further information and a unilateral undertaking by the appellant [Woodstock Homes], the Council has withdrawn its objections.”

There were 14 conditions which were attached to the planning permission. These are broken down into:

• Conditions one and two - development must start within three years and must use approved plans

• Conditions three, four, five and seven - affects development beginning

• Condition six - affects construction beginning (demolition and site clearance unaffected)

• Conditions eight, nine and ten - affects construction above “slab level”

• Conditions 11, 12 and 13 - affects specific installations towards end of development

• Condition 14 - affects occupation

Planning documents have been submitted to discharge conditions three through seven on January 9 over two separate applications. Both applications will go to a consultation stage on January 31. If these were to be approved and conditions discharged, demolition can begin.