Mall Cribbs expansion plans given green light

Artist's impression of a new 'anchor' store planned as part of an extension at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.

South Gloucestershire’s largest retail outlet is set to expand after councillors granted outline planning permission for the proposals.

The scheme at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway includes more than 35,000 square metres of retail floor space, leisure, and hotel and restaurant facilities alongside a new multi-storey car park, an events plaza and up to 150 residential apartments.

A new bus station is also included in the plans which will cater for local and MetroBus services. These services will help connect the new communities being built at the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood with major retail, employment and education hubs in the region.

As well as the bus station, a new footbridge will be built over Merlin Road for the use of pedestrians and cyclists along with new roads and enhanced pedestrian and cycle links which will be provided throughout the development.

There will be no increase in the total amount of free car parking on the site (7,000 spaces).

Given the nature and scale of the proposal, the council has referred the decision to the Secretary of State who has 21 days to approve it or call it in.

Cllr Trevor Jones, chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s Development Control (West) Committee, said:

“This application contains significant new provision for shopping at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway which will bring up to 3,000 more jobs to South Gloucestershire and continue to generate economic prosperity across the region.”

“As well as retail and leisure facilities, an important element of the proposal is the provision of transport infrastructure which will see a new bus station created for local and MetroBus services. These facilities are key to ensuring people are well connected to the area’s key employment and education hubs.”

“The council sees this £300m investment at Cribbs Causeway as a vital step in providing a vibrant town centre to better meet the needs of the existing and new communities in the north-west fringe of Bristol.”

The developers anticipate a three-year build programme for the scheme, so stores could be trading by the end of 2019 or early 2020.

The application was opposed by the owners of Cabot Circus, who claimed the development would deflect £123 million of trade a year from the city centre by 2021, resulting in the loss of 1,500 jobs from city centre shops.

Artist's impression of a proposed new covered bus station at the Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.

Images: 1 Artist’s impression of the proposed new ‘anchor’ store. 2 Artist’s impression of the proposed new covered bus station.

More info: Cribbs Future (Developer website)

This article originally appeared in the December 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 26). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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