The site - St Christopher’s Development

A challenging recent history

As local people will know, St Christopher’s School was founded in 1945 by Catherine Grace and operated as a residential Steiner school for children with learning difficulties. Unfortunately, in 2020 the school closed due to financial challenges.

The site was then acquired by FORE Partnership which proposed to build a care home with 116 apartments in buildings up to six storeys. That scheme was roundly rejected by the local community, with planning permission refused in 2023, followed by the developer going into administration in 2024.

In the same year the site was designated as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

After a lengthy process, in April 2026 Square Bay finally completed on the acquisition of the site from the administrators. Prior to Square Bay’s acquisition the site had significantly deteriorated, with damage to some of the historic buildings and the grounds becoming overgrown. A retaining wall to the rear of two properties on Royal Albert Road had collapsed, though we are now working with those residents to repair and reinstate the wall.

While there is some urgency to start restoring the lodges and grounds, we are committed to working respectfully with the community to agree a scheme that seeks to align with the community briefs prepared in 2021.

Site description

1.99 hectares within the Downs Conservation Area;
The Westbury Park frontage forms the edge to Durdham Downs;
Includes five Victorian era mansion buildings built between 1840 and 1885: Westbury Lodge; Kenwith Lodge; Hampton Lodge; Alveston Lodge and Carisbrooke Lodge;
Also includes a collection of other buildings, built between 1960 and 2000, notably the Grade II Listed Grace House;
A series of sheds and outbuildings are located along the northern boundary wall where there is also an existing substation;
The heights of the existing buildings on the site range from single to three storeys. The generous floor to ceiling heights of the existing lodges make them significantly taller than typical, modern three storey homes;

The site includes a number of vehicle access points between the existing lodges on Westbury Park;
The northern most of these leads to a small parking court previously serving the existing buildings to the rear of Westbury Lodge;
There is an additional substation access in the northeast corner of the site via Etloe Road;
The site includes a large number and variety of mature trees, some with Tree Preservation Orders, as well as now overgrown lawns and planted areas;
A significant part of the site is hard standing parking.

The community brief

We won’t seek to summarise the broadly very similar community briefs, which can be seen here: https://www.scanbristol.org/planningbrief. (produced by immediate site neighbours) and in the WPCA Planning Principles.

However, it is worth pulling out a few key themes which are informing our approach. Any development should:

Be sensitive to the local townscape: low density, low massing, low impact;
Respect the Conservation Area and the listed Grace House;
Protect the ecology & trees on the site;
Provide some form of social benefit, potentially provision for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Under Our approach we start to set out how we are seeking to comply with the briefs. Our understanding of local priorities is also growing as we talk to more local people, their representatives and community groups.

Will we meet all the requirements of the community brief?

We will certainly do our best. We will also have to meet Bristol City Council policies, satisfy other statutory consultees including Historic England, as well take into account feedback from Design West. We also have to ensure any scheme is financially viable. Where there are competing requirements we will seek the community’s support and understanding in finding a way through.

A challenging recent history

Site description

The community brief

Will we meet all the requirements of the community brief?

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