The derelict Westmoreland House office block, and the adjoining grade ll* listed Carriageworks – which have been empty for more than 40 years – would also become the setting for a cafe at the top of the revamped tower block and a restaurant in the Carriageworks.
Offices, studios, and a crescent of self-build family homes would also be constructed on the site, on the main A38 road in Stokes Croft, around 200 jobs would be created, and there would be new public space, in the form of an urban village green.
The scheme has been put forward by the Bristol-based Christian charity LoveBristol – which says its plans could also mean there is no need to spend £890,000 of taxpayers’ money that has been promised to Bristol City Council by the Homes and Communities Agency towards preliminary work on a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the buildings
Jari Moate, who has been responsible for co-ordinating the scheme for LoveBristol, said preliminary work had already been carried out both by Love Bristol for its scheme, and by the council itself on a CPO attempt embarked upon in 2006 but later abandoned.
Mr Moate, who was responsible for leading the redevelopment of Trinity Road library for Bristol East Side Traders (Best), said: “We have a scheme that is viable – and is ready to go now. We aim to provide a third way by pursuing a private purchase of the site from Comer Homes.
“There’s a real danger more time and money will be wasted (by the council) on more legal work, archaeological surveys and surveyors going round, when there’s no need since nothing has changed significantly since 2006.”
He added: “The amount of money in this new CPO could represent a significant equity stake that would take a large amount off capital costs for our scheme, and make it easier for potential investors with whom we are negotiating, to sign on the dotted line.”
The LoveBristol scheme for the site on Stokes Croft was produced with local architects White Design.
There are similarities to the Custard Factory in Birmingham, which has been turned into an arts and media quarter with studios for creative companies, plus galleries, shops and bars.
The aim is to develop the site in a way that will help regenerate the area, in the way that the presence of the Tobacco Factory enhanced the Southville area of Bristol since it was opened in 2001.
The buildings are owned by London-based property developer Comer Homes.
A planning application from Opecprime Developments, which is owned by Comer Homes, was rejected at appeal last February. It featured a ten-storey tower block, 153 flats, six live-in work units, plus shops.
No one from Comer Homes was available to comment about the latest possible plan for the site.
The plans from LoveBristol will be displayed on Friday as part of a public meeting about the site that has been organised by Ashley ward councillor Jon Rogers and fellow Liberal Democrat Waliur Rahman.
Greg Thompson, a trustee of LoveBristol, said: “It’s a real cultural quarter around here, where artists already have a significant presence. We hope to build upon that and enhance the local community, and also the city of Bristol, by turning one of the city’s biggest eyesores into its most imaginative and innovative location, with a diverse mix of people.”