An update on Bristol Zoo Gardens

We have received some good news today about our plans for the former Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton.

The outcome of a Judicial Review, challenging Bristol City Council’s decision to grant planning permission to develop the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site in Clifton, has been published today.

The challenge, which was brought by the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, has been dismissed by the Judge, who ruled that the Council correctly followed all processes when approving the planning application. Our plans for the old zoo site in Clifton were approved by the Council in April 2023 and will see the old zoo accessible for free for the first time with a new café, playground, Conservation Hub and 196 homes (20% affordable).

Bristol Zoological Society’s Chief Executive, Dr Justin Morris, said: “We are really pleased with today’s decision. We have always been confident in our plans for Bristol Zoo Gardens, which would see the gardens accessible for free and bring much-needed housing to Bristol.

“However, we cannot state clearly enough, the impact and financial toll of these legal challenges and campaigns. In recent years we have faced a concerted campaign by individuals who have purposefully delayed the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens, preventing us from accessing the proceeds and harming our charity and work.

“This means we have had to delay plans to construct new visitor infrastructure at our bigger site, Bristol Zoo Project, delaying new parking and access for cyclists and pedestrians.

“And responding to the campaigners’ lawyers has cost our charity more than £300,000 – vital funds which could have been spent on conservation and education. This money could have paid for 35,000 disadvantaged children to visit the zoo for free as part of our Access to Nature Programme or funded six years of our field conservation work in Bristol and the West of England, protecting highly threatened native species.

“As a result, this year we have had to cut costs dramatically and make roles redundant.

“We took the difficult decision to close Bristol Zoo Gardens as the Clifton site does not work as a modern conservation zoo. We believe zoos need to change, which is why we want to build a new zoo at Bristol Zoo Project, which is much larger, to provide excellent animal welfare in larger natural habitats. We want to focus on conservation and the threatened animals that most need our help. The campaigners are trying to stop this by delaying the sale of Bristol Zoo Gardens.

“Not only have we faced hugely expensive legal challenges including the Judicial Review, we have had to defend our charity from the spread of misleading, factually incorrect and alarmist information about the plans for the old zoo - when in fact, the previously private space will be open to the public, for free, for the first time in its history.

“We hope today’s judgment brings an end to the campaign and allows our charity to make best use of its funds. Further attempts by campaigners in Clifton to delay the sale of the old zoo will prevent any further development of Bristol Zoo Project and continue to reduce our ability to invest in conservation.”

At Bristol Zoo Project, work is nearing completion on an African Forest habitat, where our amazing troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas; Jock, Touni, Kera, Kala, Afia, Ayana, and toddlers, Hasani and Juni, will be joined by Endangered cherry-crowned mangabey monkeys. It will also become home to Critically Endangered slender-snouted crocodiles and several extremely threatened species of West African freshwater fish. Endangered African grey parrots, which have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, will also be living in the habitat.

If you would like to show your support for our conservation charity, you can do so by donating to our African Forest appeal where we need everyone’s help to raise £100,000, to support the development and further enable our teams to safeguard the future of these precious species in the wild.