Development at former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory in Easton could have zero affordable housing | Bristol Live

There have been protests and public objections to the scheme but the council is not giving up

Bristol City Council has said it is negotiating with the developers of a major scheme in central Bristol to build at least some affordable housing on site.

It comes after a planning inspector said that zero affordable homes had to be built at the former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory in Easton .

Plans to build 135 new homes at the site near the Bristol-Bath cycle path were given the go ahead following a planning appeal last year.

Throughout the process there were a substantial number of public objections and protests to the scheme concerning the lack of affordable housing, which developer Generator Group said was not viable.

And despite an offer to make six of the homes affordable the planning inspector concluded that it “would not be economically viable to provide any affordable housing on this site.”

But the council has said it is not giving up and is in “fresh discussions” with Generator about providing 14 affordable homes at the site.

This would make 10 per cent of the development affordable.

Cllr Paul Smith, cabinet member for housing at Bristol City Council , said: “Establishing good quality affordable housing in the city is a priority for us and we continue to work closely with developers and the government on this.

“Whilst the Planning Inspectorate upheld the developer’s appeal last year, fresh discussions are now taking place about providing 14 affordable homes within the Chocolate Factory building.”

In a previous statement Generator has said it would be making a £1 million contribution to local infrastructure.

A number of on-site surveys took place on the site at the beginning of year and the developer has said they hope to start building later this year.