The west car park has been idle since the zoo closed its doors in September 2022, to facilitate a new conservation-focused zoo at the Wild Place Project in South Gloucestershire.

The acquisition will see the delivery of 62 new homes — 20% of which will be affordable housing — with seven mews houses and 55 one- and two-bed apartments in the Clifton area of Bristol.

Planning permission was granted for the development in December 2022 following an unsuccessful judicial review challenge.

The proceeds from the sale will be used by the Bristol Zoological Society to fund the first phase of construction at Wild Place Project —  to be called Bristol Zoo Project — which will include the creation of a new central African forest area, with construction expected to start in 2024.

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The residential development will reflect the design style of surrounding Georgian mansions in the area and will also incorporate energy-efficient features such as photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps and green roofs.

Andy Hill, group CEO at The Hill Group, commented: "This is an important site for the city, both in terms of redeveloping a former part of the historic zoo and providing high-quality accommodation in such an architecturally rich part of the city.

“We are pleased to have completed our acquisition of the site, and now look ahead to delivering a development that reflects the heritage of Clifton, while also addressing the housing needs of the local area.”

Justin Morris, CEO at Bristol Zoological Society, added: "It is great to see the progress being made on the redevelopment of this historically important location, offering new, sustainable and affordable housing for Bristol”.