New atrium home for Banksy mural

The mural topped a recent BBC Bristol poll

A Banksy mural which topped an online poll as Bristol's favourite alternative landmark is to become part of a development of flats and offices.

Mild Mild West, which depicts comic policemen and a bear, will be protected in a glass atrium at the front of the development in Stoke's Croft.

Gavin Carpenter, of White Design, said the atrium would include a shop and seating and be open to everyone.

"Our architects thinks the atrium is public art in its own right," he said.

The development, which has yet to secure planning permission, will include more than 80 flats, shops and offices.

Mild Mild West took almost half the vote in a recent BBC Bristol Where I Live poll to find the city's favourite alternative landmark; more than double its nearest rival, Troopers Hill.

Planning permission has yet to be granted

Guerrilla artist Banksy has a huge following in the city, and his work has recently sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds.

According to one city councillor, when Banksy's work appears, other graffiti tends to dissipate.

Councillor Gary Hopkins said: "Where there is good quality street art, other graffiti does not tend to encroach.

"It is a matter of respect. And taggers don't get their work noticed.

"That's why we commission various murals around the city."

The council estimated to clean all the graffiti in Bristol would cost about £5m.

Its contractors recently painted over a 25-ft long Banksy mural in error: a fate unlikely to befall Mild Mild West if it is enclosed by glass.