A legal challenge led by Save Bristol Gardens Alliance is underway to contest Bristol City Council’s approval of 200 homes on the historic Bristol Zoo site, with campaigners determined to explore alternatives despite the council’s plans being financially vital to the zoo’s future expansion.
A judicial review is currently underway concerning Bristol City Council’s decision to approve plans for the redevelopment of the former Bristol Zoo site in Clifton, which includes the construction of 200 new homes. The legal challenge is spearheaded by the campaign group Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, which is contesting the planning permission granted back in 2023 for a mixed-use development at this historic location.
Bristol Zoo, renowned worldwide, first opened its doors in Clifton in 1836. In a significant move, the Bristol Zoological Society, the charity that operates the zoo, announced its closure in 2022, with intentions to partially redevelop the site. Subsequently, the organisation shifted its focus to a new site near Cribbs Causeway, which it refers to as the Bristol Zoo Project, originally opened to the public in 2013.
Following the zoo’s closure, the Society secured planning permission in spring 2023 to build around 200 new homes, mainly in blocks of flats, bordering the gardens. Plans also include the transformation of the zoo’s grounds into a publicly accessible park, with the Society maintaining a ‘visitor hub’ in the former zoo office and entrance building.
Despite these developments, campaigners have persistently fought against the planning decision, raising thousands of pounds through crowd-funding efforts for their legal challenge. The proceedings began in the High Court in Bristol on May 7, with the case expected to extend into May 8. A ruling from the High Court judge is anticipated in the following weeks.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the Alliance expressed confidence ahead of the hearing, stating: “As we face the full hearing next week, we believe we could not have prepared a stronger case.” They also indicated their ongoing commitment to challenging the redevelopment, regardless of the outcome, advocating for alternatives that they believe would be more beneficial for the community.
The Bristol Zoological Society has emphasised the financial necessity of the development to support the expansion of the Bristol Zoo Project, asserting that the millions generated from selling the site to housing developers are crucial for their plans. However, the sale and associated development have been stalled pending the judicial review proceedings.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mn1dn0gr0o – This article discusses the judicial review of Bristol City Council’s approval for the redevelopment of the former Bristol Zoo site, including the construction of 196 new homes and the transformation of the zoo’s grounds into a publicly accessible park.
- https://www.savebristolgardensalliance.org/ – The official website of Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, the campaign group leading the legal challenge against the redevelopment plans for the former Bristol Zoo site.
- https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/environment/766-environmental-news/59090-high-court-agrees-to-hear-judicial-review-challenge-over-permission-for-redevelopment-of-former-city-zoo-site – This article reports on the High Court’s decision to hear the judicial review challenge brought by Save Bristol Gardens Alliance against the redevelopment of the former Bristol Zoo site.
- https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2024-10-30/plans-to-redevelop-former-zoo-site-delayed-by-legal-challenge – This article covers the delay in plans to build almost 200 new homes on the former Bristol Zoo Gardens site due to a legal challenge brought by campaigners.
- https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/campaigners-launch-legal-challenge-against-196-home-development-on-bristols-historic-zoo-gardens-site/5130992.article – This article details the legal challenge launched by campaigners against the proposed 196-home development on the historic Bristol Zoo Gardens site.
- https://www.savebristolgardensalliance.org/post/bristol-zoo-development-plan-on-hold-as-campaigners-take-legal-action – This post on the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance website discusses the judicial review that has put the redevelopment plans for the former Bristol Zoo site on hold.
- https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxOSWJWbjR2d1ZjMl9Tbm95b2J3Wm5WWkJpRDVsRTRKMXdyOXFBVGVZSjduQ19adVJ3OUJ0bEpjajl5d1NuNk95VHZqQ3VJbVJiRXNudzZ0Z28zcUU2eFo3WHZHZWZUWThCblFIVzAtT2NyWmZiaEphT2hEXzhzTUNocGhkcWFJeFdEREtJM2U3NG5LN2x0Rk9J?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references recent events, including a judicial review beginning on May 7, 2025, ongoing legal proceedings, and planning permission granted in 2023. The Bristol Zoo closure in 2022 and redevelopment plans are contemporary and consistent with known timelines, indicating high freshness. No signs of recycled news or outdated references detected.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The only direct quote from the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance originates from their Facebook page statement ahead of the hearing. This appears to be an original and recent source with no earlier references found online, suggesting the quote is authentic and freshly published.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative’s URL comes from a Google News RSS feed aggregation rather than a direct citation from an established reputable outlet like BBC or Reuters. This reduces certainty about the original reporting source. However, the information aligns with publicly verifiable facts about Bristol Zoo and local planning issues.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
Claims about the judicial review, Bristol Zoo closure, redevelopment plans for housing, and the campaign group’s legal challenge are consistent with standard civic processes and reported timelines. The story’s details are plausible and verifiable via public records and local news.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The account reliably reports a current judicial review and redevelopment plans related to the Bristol Zoo site with accurate dates and quotes. While the original publishing outlet is unclear, the facts and timeline are consistent and plausible, supporting a high confidence in accuracy and freshness.
