Introduction to Bristol development areas

These are some major regeneration areas earmarked for development in Bristol.

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Broadmead

Broadmead is the largest shopping centre in the South West and accommodates a wide and interesting selection of stores - both national names and specialist shops.  Expansion and enhancement will make it one of Britain's top five retail centres.

This major mixed-use development will provide for a new flagship department store, over 100 other shops and 310,000 square feet of floorspace for office, restaurants and bars.  It will also feature numerous dedicated public spaces, including a new square around the historic Quakers Friars building.  In addition, 4,500 new jobs will be created.

This is a major project costing over £500 million.  Completion is expected by 2008.

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Harbourside

The £240 million regeneration of Canon's Marsh is now well underway with the construction of Phase 1 Crest Nicholson's residential, office and leisure development.  The scheme features a series of restaurants and cafes along attractive public spaces, routes to bring people down to the waterfront, and a new harbour inlet for visiting boats with views of the ss Great Britain.  Phase 1 commenced construction in March 2004.  It includes leading edge leisure buildings and an adjoining hotel which will form the western side of Millennium Square.  Clerical Medical Insurance Group have chosen the waterfront site next to Lloyds TSB for their new Bristol headquarters.  Twin apartment buildings will frame the view of the Cathedral from Wapping Wharf.  All of these are scheduled for completion by May 2006, at an estimated cost of £18 million.  The whole scheme is expected to take until 2010.

Harbourside is undergoing a 'cultural renaissance' with the recent re-opening of the Arnolfinin Centre for Contemporary Art, along with proposals for creation of a new Museum of Bristol at Princes Wharf.  This will establish it as one of Europe's leading quarters for the arts and creative industries.  Investment has also helped to secure the long-term future of Watershed - one of the UK's most exciting and successful arts centres.

Bristol's importance as a centre for engineering and science has been further enhanced by completion of the restoration of ss Great Britain.  This is in time for major national celebrations next year of Brunel 200 - the bi-centenary of his birth.

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Redcliffe

Located between Temple Quay and the Old City, with close proximity to Temple Meads Station, the Redcliffe neighbourhood is experiencing major change.  There is a shift from storage and light industrial use to residential and office use.  Along with public and private open space, a harbourside walkway, pedestrian and cycle bridge, landscaping and parking.  It is anticipated that by 2007 its residential population will have doubled.

The aim is to create a distinctive new quarter for the city centre with a wide mix of uses and high quality design to create a place in which people want to live, work and enjoy themselves.  The Redcliffe Futures Initiative has been established to enable local residents, businesses and other interests to help guide and influence the direction of change over the coming years.

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South Bristol

South Bristol has continued to provide a strong focus for commercial development.  Established businesses include Somerfield, Matthew Clark and First Bus, whose confidence in the area is reflected in long-term developments.  Major investment has already been attracted to the Wills site, with a £70⁺ million business and retail site proposed.  A new 15-acre development of mixed business units at the South Bristol Business Park has also been completed.

A major redevelopment of the existing run-down shopping centre at Symes Avenue in Hartcliffe has attracted Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc.  As well as this, the centre will include new community and retail space.  This investment provides a solid platform for sustainable commercial development and a promising future for local business.

Plans for the mixed use development of the Hengrove Park site include provision of a community hospital for South Bristol, new swimming and sports facilities, a landscaped park, plus commercial and residentail space.

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Temple Quarter

Temple Quarter is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in the South West. It encompasses 115 acres of land and has a development value of up to £750 million. There are four main phases to the project - Temple Quay, Temple Quay 2, Temple Meads and Bristol Arena.

The core site has already established itself as a new commercial heart of Bristol. It provides quality office accommodation for high profile companies, including Bristol & West, Osborne Clarke, BT and Regus. It is a flagship sustainable project for inner city regeneration.

The success of the core site has encouraged the South West of England Regional Development Agency to invest further in the area. Work has already started on:

which will create a high-density development of housing, offices, retail and leisure facilities. A third phase will link Temple Meads railway station to the centre of Bristol.

The Bristol Arena is a £100 million project next to Temple Meads station. A 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena for music, sports, conferences and events. The remainder of the site will be redeveloped to create a mixed-use leisure and entertainment destination for the city. The Arena is scheduled to open in 2008.

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