• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday October 8 2026

Bristol BID unveils £500k vision for greener city centre

A new vision to make the city centre greener, healthier and more resilient to climate change through better public spaces and waterways has been unveiled by Bristol BID.

The Green & Blue Vision sets out 10 ideas for targeted improvements across central Bristol, including Queen Square, Millennium Square, Temple Quay and the Harbourside.

Developed with placemaking and landscape specialists MOOWD, the plan calls for more planting, wildlife habitats, rain gardens, permeable surfaces and improved places for people to rest and spend time.

Proposals include nature-based play and new habitats in Queen Square, a floating ecosystem at Temple Quay, more planting and seating at Narrow Quay, and turning University Road into a greener boulevard.

The vision also makes the case for a bigger push to remove unnecessary hard surfacing across the city centre. Bristol BID said consultation with businesses, partners and stakeholders had repeatedly identified paved areas as both a barrier to greening and a major opportunity for improvement.

Bristol BID has committed £500,000 over five years to green and blue infrastructure projects. The funding could support direct delivery, match funding, surveys and design work for larger schemes seeking investment.

The organisation has already backed projects including Portwall Gardens, planters in the Old City, a wildflower meadow at St Mary Redcliffe Church, green walls and the appointment of an Urban Gardener.

Tom Swithinbank, senior project manager at Bristol BID, said: “We need to raise our ambition for green and blue infrastructure in Bristol, increasing the pace, scale and impact of delivery, and work together to turn a vision into action.

“We want to see more spaces in central Bristol that bring nature into the heart of the city while giving people more reasons to spend time there. There’s a real opportunity for Bristol to set the standard for high-quality public realm, and this Vision is about starting that conversation, bringing people together and building the case for the investment needed to make it happen.”

Alongside the vision, Bristol BID and design and placemaking charity Design West have launched a competition seeking “Big Green Ideas for Bristol Harbour”.

Designers, students and emerging talent are invited to put forward concepts for Bathurst Basin, Hanover Place or The Grove. Entries can explore planting, water, biodiversity, seating, play, art and other public realm improvements.

Three winners – one for each site – will receive a £500 Love Bristol Gift Card. Their proposals will be included in the published Green & Blue Vision and used to inform future discussions with Bristol City Council and other stakeholders.

The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 1 November. Winners will be announced at the Green & Blue Vision launch at Creative Youth Network on Wednesday 11 November, during Brazen Festival’s Clean Day. Bristol BID says the vision builds on previous city-centre greening work and supports wider regional and council strategies.