Mickleburgh

at King Square Avenue

Introduction and background

Mickleburgh Musical Instruments and Colico Living are bringing forward emerging proposals for a mixed-use redevelopment of Mickleburgh’s current music store at 1-9 Stokes Croft.

Why does the store need to be redeveloped?

A new building would help Mickleburgh, which has been based in Stokes Croft for over 120 years, respond to changing shopping habits by creating a more exciting flexible space that can offer more than the existing specialist music shop.

The plans will create a unique ‘music hub’ featuring a piano showroom and music shop as well as performance and event space, practice and tuition rooms, recording studios and a café bar. Mickleburgh also intends to create and run a new live music venue, in the basement, offering a range of intimate gigs and performances adding to the rich nightlife of Stokes Croft.  

Mickleburgh is working in partnership with residential property developer CoLiCo Living to enable the redevelopment of the existing music store by bringing forward new purpose-built student accommodation above. The upper floors of the building will provide 126 studio apartments for students, along with co-working areas, lounges, a cinema room, games areas, and an external terrace for the occupants.  

Public Consultation

The team consulted local neighbours, stakeholders and the wider public about its plans in November 2022 before submitting a full planning application to Bristol City Council.

Since then, the scheme has evolved substantially, incorporating feedback from key stakeholders and the community including Bristol City Council Officers and other key stakeholders. This has resulted in a reduction in the height of the building, the number of student flats and the materials and appearance of the building.

Key changes to the scheme

Height, scale and massing

The height has been significantly reduced by 13 metres from c. 35m to 22m.
Four storeys have been removed; from 11 storeys to seven storeys. The majority of the scheme is six storeys with the uppermost level set back.
The number of student bedrooms has reduced from 192 to 126.

Image showing the outline of the original proposals in blue/orange and the new proposal in red.

Original proposal

Revised proposal recently submitted to Bristol City Council

Design & Materials

The overall design and materials of brick, concrete and metal casement windows give the building a restrained character that is typical of post-war architecture.
The revised design takes greater inspiration from the existing Mickleburgh building and 22 Stokes Croft (Pieminister), the proposed materials are now more sympathetic towards the local context but also contribute to the architectural diversity of the area.
The entrance has been moved so it is consistent with the current building and features a splayed entrance that rounds the corner into King Square Avenue.
The brown/buff brick connects the building to the urban landscape and the use of complementary darker tone at the base helps to differentiate the shopfront and ground the building. Recesses and brick detailing along the front of the building make it more visually interesting. and relatable to the surrounding range of buildings.
The top floor is set back from the lower floors clad in a warm copper finish.

CGIs showing proposed brickwork and metal casement windows

New Computer Generated Images (click on the arrow to scroll through different views)

Reflecting the building's history

Some feedback raised questions regarding the treatment of exposed gable party walls as these elements cannot be articulated by window treatment.
These façades are a key part of the schemes appearance. We have explored several options as to the treatment and articulation of these gables through use of brick detailing and public artwork which references the historic importance of Mickleburgh’s presence in this location.
This facade looking south down Stokes Croft would benefit from preserving the Mickleburgh branding and should exhibit a public art feature wall. Options could include brickwork to look like piano keys or a painted feature much like the Pieminster shop opposite.
We have also looked at referencing the post-war signage as an example of preserving the site’s heritage.

What next?

For more information, and to comment on the proposals, you can view the planning application on Bristol City Council's Planning Portal using the reference 23/00879/F.

More detailed information is available in the revised Design and Access Statement

A pdf of the consultation material from November 2022 (showing the original proposals) can be viewed here: Mickleburgh at King Square Avenue proposals

If you have any further queries please contact ABC, consultation coordinators, by emailing info@abc-pr.co.uk or calling 0117 977 2002.

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