The Christmas Steps 2 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS Data via plota.co.uk

26/11260/F - Full Planning Pending consideration
Change of useCommercial premises

Proposal

Change of use of existing office space to residential use (Class C1). Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
20 Mar 2026
✓
Validated
12 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 7 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision around 7 Dec 2026, from Bristol's recent changes of use.

The consultation period closed on 17 Jun 2026.

Documents 26

Statements & assessments 6

PDF FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT Supporting document · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF ECONOMIC STATEMENT Supporting document · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF DESIGN, ACCESS AND HERITAGE STATEMENT Design & Access Statement · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF BNG EXEMPTION STATEMENT Supporting document · 1 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF DESIGN ACCESS AND HERITAGE APPENDICES Design & Access Statement · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF DESIGN ACCESS AND HERITAGE STATEMENT (INC SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT) Design & Access Statement · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 16

PDF CHR-AFA-XX-02-DR-A-1012 P3 EXISTING PLAN LEVEL 02 Plan · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-02-DR-A-1092 P4 PROPOSED DEMOLITION PLAN LEVEL 02 Plan · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-02-DR-A-1202 P7 PROPOSED PLAN LEVEL 02 Plan · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-02-DR-A-1093 P4 PROPOSED DEMOLITION PLAN LEVEL 03 Plan · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-02-DR-A-1203 P7 PROPOSED PLAN LEVEL 03 Plan · 9 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-03-DR-A-1013 - P2 EXISTING PLAN LEVEL 03 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-RF-DR-A-1000 - P2 SITE LOCATION PLAN Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-RF-DR-A-1001 - P2 SITE PLAN Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-RF-DR-A-1014 - P2 EXISTING ROOF PLAN Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-00-DR-A-1010 - P2 EXISTING PLAN LEVEL 00 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-01-DR-A-1011 - P2 EXISTING PLAN LEVEL 01 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-00-DR-A-1200 - P6 PROPOSED PLAN LEVEL 00 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-00-DR-A-1090 - P3 PROPOSED DEMOLITION PLAN LEVEL 00 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-01-DR-A-1091 - P3 PROPOSED DEMOLITION PLAN LEVEL 01 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CHR-AFA-XX-01-DR-A-1201 - P5 PROPOSED PLAN LEVEL 01 Plan · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF SHORT TERM LET MANAGEMENT PLAN Supporting document · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATION FORM Application Form · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 2

PDF Commenter’s name hidden Show Consultee Comment · 8 Jun 2026 View ↗
PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LIST Neighbour Notification List · 12 May 2026 View ↗

Other documents 1

PDF ISSUE SHEET Supporting document · 20 Mar 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 8

65 listed buildings within 150 m of the postcode pin
Nearest: 17 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS, the postcode pin is inside its outline · 1 Grade I, 8 Grade II*, 43 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 65 with distances
Public footpath about 5 m away
Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site: obstructing a path without a diversion order is an offence, and work cannot start until the order is confirmed.
Compiled from highway authority data, not the legal definitive map. A few authorities have not published, so no path shown is not proof there is none.
St. Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Council document ↗
Article 4 direction
Ashley Ward, Cabot Ward, Clifton East Ward, Cotham Ward and Lawrence Hill Ward (1999 ward boundary). Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.
An Article 4 direction withdraws particular permitted development rights, so work that would normally need no application needs one here. Not every council has published its directions.
Air quality management area: Bristol AQMA
The council has declared the area as failing an air quality objective.
Schemes that add traffic, parking or combustion plant are assessed against the area's action plan and may need an air quality assessment.
Council record ↗
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 4; Coalfield, development low risk area; Inside the Bristol built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 27 October 2026. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Mining Remediation Authority, the British Geological Survey and UK Health Security Agency (radon, contains BGS materials © UKRI) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Council
Bristol
Application type
Full Planning
Postcode
BS1 5BS
Received
20 Mar 2026
Validated
12 Oct 2026
Ward
Central
Parish
Central, Clifton And Harbourside
Target decision
7 Dec 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Alec French Architects

Decision outlook

Day 16 of the 56-day target. Bristol usually decides changes of use by day 56.

Day 1640 days to the 56-day target
58%decided within 8 weeks
68%approved
230decided in the last year

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Bristol in the last twelve months, from validation. Bristol decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

96 neighbours consulted · Last counted 27 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-13681826
Planning Portal ref
PP-13681826
Comments by
17 Jun 2026
Statutory expiry
7 Dec 2026

Historical activity at this location

27 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2024 Withdrawn
Conversion of existing office space back to residential use.
24/05144/F
2025 Withdrawn
Conversion of existing office space back to residential use.
25/10271/LA
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
25 Trenchard Street Bristol BS1 5AN
Conversion of existing building to student accommodation, consisting of studio bedrooms…
25/12512/F
2025 Approved
60 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AZ
Works include repairing the existing roof, repainting the facades, replacing the external…
25/13501/LB
2025 Approved
9 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
Proposed gas line taken into property and new combi-boiler with flue taken through wall t…
25/12776/LB
2025 Approved
5 The Three Kings Court Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AY
Installation of an extractor fan with external duct in bathroom on building's eastern ext…
25/10111/LB
2024 Approved
27 Trenchard Street Bristol BS1 5AN
Garrya - Fell.
24/04936/VC
2024 Approved
5 Host Street Bristol BS1 5BU
New cavity drain waterproofing to internal surfaces of lower ground floor walls to mitiga…
24/04124/LB
2024 Approved
60 Colston Street City Centre Bristol BS1 5AZ
Internal alterations, secondary glazing and repairs to windows, repairs to stair and rear…
24/02336/F
2024 Approved
60 Colston Street City Centre Bristol BS1 5AZ
Internal alterations, secondary glazing and repairs to windows, repairs to stair and rear…
24/02337/LA
2023 Approved
82 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5BB
Change of use of part basement to student studio (sui generis use).
23/02989/F
2024 Approved
16 The Three Kings Court Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AY
To restore the exposed ceiling beams within the property to their former appearance, The…
24/03182/LB
2024 Approved
16 The Three Kings Court Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AY
Proposed to open up two fireplaces, to restore them to their original open state from the…
24/03192/LB
2024 Approved
Electricity Substation Colston Street Bristol
T1 - Lime - Re-pollard.
24/03289/VC
2023 Approved
Ground Floor Stonebridge House Colston Avenue Bristol BS1 4TN
Change of the ground floor level from office (class E (g) (i) use) to a student amenity s…
23/03223/F
2024 Approved
1 Host Street City Centre Bristol BS1 5BU
The proposals are to repair this building and to make internal alterations to convert it…
24/00315/LA
2024 Approved
1 Host Street Bristol BS1 5BU
A hanging sign at the front of the building with a logo and the name 'Zed Alley Clayhouse…
24/00442/A
2022 Refused
20 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
To install new external extraction duct work to the building, consisting of small diamete…
22/04425/LA
2022 Refused
20 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
To install new external extraction duct work to the building, consisting of small diamete…
22/04424/F
2023
Land To Rear Of Electricity Substation Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AY
Alterations, repair and stabilisation works to boundary walls, new access, development of…
23/01363/F
2023
Land To The East Of Colston Street Colston Street Bristol BS1 5AY
Alterations, repair and stabilisation works to boundary walls, new access, development of…
23/01364/LA
2021 Approved
1A-C Colston Yard Bristol BS1 5BD
Partial demolition, conversion of no. 1A Colston Yard from offices to a house in multiple…
21/04208/F
2016 Withdrawn
13 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
Replacement, hardwood, display window on a shop front.
16/01106/F
2016 Withdrawn
13 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
Proposed installation of replacement, hardwood, display window on a shop front.
16/01025/LA
2016 Refused
78 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5BB
Non-illuminated fascia sign.
16/00955/A
2016 Approved
Centre Gate Colston Avenue Bristol BS1 4TR
Replacement of 1 no. window on each of first, second and third floors. 1 no. new window o…
16/00325/F
2016 Approved
20 Christmas Steps Bristol BS1 5BS
Proposed internal alterations including demolition of a modern stud partition wall at the…
16/00005/LA
Bristol
Planning Authority Score
5.8/10
Average
#109 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Bristol ranks #112 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (92%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Bristol decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #190 of 296
92%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #149 of 296
71%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #112 of 296
37%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #118 of 296
74%
Minor dwellings approved
374 decided (1-9 homes)
93%
Major dwellings approved
30 decided (10+ homes)
82%
Change of use approved
150 decided
2,098
Total decisions
293 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings