Fans and local residents visited the Memorial Stadium this week to take a look at the new plans for the stadium regeneration scheme.

More than 110 people came to the Bristol Room on Wednesday and Thursday evening to have a look at images and speak to the experts.

The new plans were submitted to the council earlier this month. Since the grant of permission last year, we have been developing and improving the design to the level of detail that will enable contracts to be let to appropriate demolition and construction contractors. This process involved value engineering and most of the changes result from this.

The majority of these relate to the internal arrangements of the various facilities within the development but there are also changes to the roof design, notably the trusses that support the structural integrity of the roof, and to the south end of the ground where the basement has been deleted and the new stand has been set back about 1.5m to the north.

It is worth emphasising though that the stadium plans are fundamentally the same as they were last January - it is still an 18,500 capacity stadium. It is still funded by the enabling development, principally the student accommodation; it still has the same number of student bedrooms and broadly the same amount of hotel rooms and commercial floorspace.

However, as there is no provision in law for changes that have been made to be agreed outside the planning process they have now been referred formally to the City Council.

LIST OF CHANGES

This list explains the main changes between the Extant Planning Permission (06/03850/F) granted in January 2008 and the Amended Scheme (08/00061/F) submitted for planning permission in January 2008).

1) There is no change in building height except on NE and NW corners where there is a 1.0m increase. This has no impact on application of daylighting guidelines. The span of roof trusses is higher.

2) There is a decrease in accommodation (other than 127 sq m increase in commercial offices):
· 99 student flats (decrease from 105) - number of rooms unchanged
· 97 hotel bedrooms (decrease from 112) comprising 84 permanent rooms (unchanged) and 13 hospitality boxes with a dual use as hotel bedrooms (decrease from 28)
· 20 hospitality boxes in total (including 13 with dual use as hotel bedrooms) (decrease from 28)
· 370 sq m A1 convenience store (decrease from 375 sq m)
· 1,056 sq m A3 restaurant (decrease from 1,110 sq m)
· Standalone conference facilities removed; conference facility incorporated into restaurant area as dual use
· 1,548 sq offices (Use Class B1a) [397 sq m decrease from ancillary & commercial offices]

3) Basement removed. Internal accommodation reconfigured.

4) Accommodation in SE and SW corners is set back by 4.5m from approved elevation, improving relationship with Downend Road. South Stand is stepped back by 1.5m.

5) Accommodation in NW corner, northern elevation and NE corner adjusted, resulting in a slightly different shape to retail unit, building façade and configuration of the hotel. The retail unit extends a further 3m-6m northwards. The reconfigured hotel is reduced by 5m on N-S axis, reducing impact on Trubshaw Gardens.

6) No loss car or coach parking spaces, but parking layout amended with no impact on vehicle tracking. Pitch size adjusted from 100 x 64m to 100 x 66m.

7) Restaurant (first floor) has pitch side views, owing to reduction in hospitality boxes.

8) Windows introduced on west and east elevations at Level 6, as required by fire regulations.

The council are inviting people to comment on the new proposals. Individuals have until February 10th to submit views to the planning department.

You can do this by writing to: Kit Stokes, Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, Brunel House, St George's Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY.

You can also email north.plannin@bristol.gov.uk. More details of the new planning application will be posted on this website over the next few days.