A council-owned developer is planning to build houses on the running track
11:09, 21 Mar 2025
A housing plan “should be redesigned” to save a South Bristol running track due to be built over. Thousands of people have now signed a petition calling for a change to the plan to build houses on the athletics track in Whitchurch.
More than 5,600 petitioners have urged Bristol City Council to save the athletics track, with support from local rugby star Ellis Genge. The track is used every week during the summer months by the Southville Running Club, and is also home to the Bristol Family Cycling Centre.
But Goram Homes, the council-owned developer, is planning to build housing on the track instead. A leading councillor said the situation was “complicated” as the plans already have permission, during a public health and communities policy committee on March 14.
John Pearce, a local campaigner, said: “House-building is going ahead in our area, which we don’t deny is needed. But we see an issue with a lack of installed health services to support the incoming and existing population. To have more housing while taking away facilities that already exist is an issue.
“The new Bristol Cycling Centre that’s going to be built in Lawrence Weston is going to take a much-loved and well-used in South Bristol away from an area where the health statistics say that it’s desperately needed. There’s an athletics track that’s going to be destroyed and 125 houses are going to be built on its place.
“Why can't 125 houses be built somewhere else and a useful resource be maintained and restored? The Whitchurch Athletics Track and Family Cycling Centre should remain. There’s a good synergy with the Bristol Skills Academy, the leisure centre and the hospital.”
A new cycling centre is planned for Lawrence Weston, 10 miles away from the current centre and track in Whitchurch. Mr Pearce added that the housing planned for the site is unnecessarily spread out, and the least dense part of the Hengrove Park development, “wasting precious land”.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the public health committee, said: “I spoke to one of the ward councillors for Hengrove and got a bit more background. I understand this issue has been going on for a long time, and it’s now complicated with planning permissions that have been given.
“But I will ask for a briefing from our officers about the sporting aspects. I’ll talk to the planning officers as well, just to get a clearer picture. We’ll then send a response through and we’ll see where we go from there.”