It has been confirmed that plans are to be submitted for the redevelopment of the former Gala Bingo club in Bedminster. Urbis Development from the Bristol area has recently completed a conversion of the Robinson building on East Street into a block of 100 residential flats. The Gala Bingo, which closed in February 2008 is located nearby on North Street.

Bristol City Council have put up a legal notice informing the public stating that the development company is to apply for permission to develop both the former bingo hall site and the Carr Power Products site a few doors down the road. The notice says that the application would be to demolish the buildings and to build a "comprehensive mixed use residential and commercial redevelopment". Local residents will be saddened by the news after they handed in a petition to save the former bingo club. It was claimed that the closure would be a major loss to the community in particular older people that would find it difficult to use alternative clubs due to their age, disability and poor public transport links.

The director of Urbis Development, Richard Clarke commented: "Urbis Development is currently looking into purchasing the site of the old Gala Bingo hall on North Street, subject to obtaining planning for a mixed use development.

"The recent public notice was issued in connection with a planning application that will be submitted in due course. Urbis will look to issue a full press release about the future plans for the site when contracts have been finalised."

The site had been used for bingo for the last 25 years and prior to this housed the Rex Cinema. Gala Bingo took over the site 10 years ago and closed the site in 2008; with 20 people losing their jobs as the hall was "under-performing" compared to its sister sites in Hengrove and Fishponds.

Just a few months after the closure of the club, another developer Parkridge Homes (Southern) had been reported to be looking at developing the site. The company had proposed demolishing the hall and building about 40 flats with shops on the ground floor and parking spaces, however, given the outlook for the housing market at the time and recession that we were entering the company walked away from the proposals.