Plans for Bristol’s tallest building have been submitted to the city council – with the firm behind it saying they are responding to Mayor Marvin Rees’ decision to scrap limits in parts of the city.
The proposal for an 82.6m tall, 22-storey landmark tower at Redcliff is a revision to an earlier plan by developer Change Real Estate. 
The building would be the centrepiece of an ambitious mixed-use development and would include a restaurant at ground floor and mezzanine level with apartments above.
Change Real Estate said the ‘slender’ tower would be a reference to the site’s post-war light industrial use by Bristol Blue Glass and the Pilkington Glass Works.
The city’s tallest building is the 80m, 18-floor Castlemead office block on the edge of Broadmead.
Mayor Rees pledged in his ‘state of the city’ lecture last month that he would look at local planning policies to allow taller buildings in the right place, creating a “bolder skyline”.
The plan for the Redcliff tower, which would be faced in Bristol Blue Glass, has been revised to include four additional stories since then. Change Real Estate said the revisions had been made following “close consultation with the council’s Planning and Urban Design officers”.
Phase Two of the Redcliff Quarter development is on 3.3 acres of land in the heart of Redcliffe, which has lain derelict for around 20 years.
Change Real Estate said it wants to transform the site into a 600,000 sq ft mixed-use urban village, which will create a new vibrant quarter for the city, regenerating a critical piece of the city fabric.
Situated between St Thomas Street and Redcliffe Street, the final plans now being considered by Bristol City Council include the first Radisson Red lifestyle hotel in England, a European-style food court to be run by Michelin-starred chef and foodie entrepreneur Josh Eggleton, a roof-top restaurant with panoramic views over the city, cafés, 15,000 sq ft of offices as well as 317 new homes.
Change Real Estate director Ron Persaud said: “Having listened carefully to the aspirations of Mayor Rees to implement a new policy for Bristol to ‘build up’, to see attractive, taller and ambitious buildings within the city, we have been working very closely with Bristol City Council to respond positively to this change.
“We have always sought to create an elegant, iconic tower for Redcliff Quarter. Releasing the height restraint that we were faced with before has allowed us to revisit the plans. Incorporating four additional storeys has also allowed for 10 additional new homes to be created.”
Contractors have been appointed for Phase One of Redcliff Quarter, which received planning consent in April 2015, comprising 128 residential units and three retail units. The residential element of phase One has recently been acquired by A2Dominion, which will market them under its FABRICA by A2Dominion brand for private rent.
Redcliff Quarter’s architecture will reflect the artisanal character and industrial heritage of this part of Bristol bringing an urban feel to the public realm. Roof top and courtyard gardens, balconies and terraces, as well as internal courtyards, will play a large part in the design to create an attractive and interesting streetscape, maximising light and enhancing the unique character of the area.
The planning application for Redcliff Quarter has received support from both businesses and local residents:
Destination Bristol chief executive John Hirst said: “This is a great opportunity to significantly improve the area which will bring benefits for Bristol’s visitors and residents.”
Bilfinger GVA has provided planning advice to Change Real Estate; Lyons Sleeman Hoare are the architects for Redcliff Quarter.
The plans are expected to be considered by the council’s planning committee on November 30.
