• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday October 17 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Bristol City Council launches consultation over Western Harbour plans

Plans to develop Bristol’s Western Harbour – a large parcel of riverside land around Cumberland Basin with views of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and three historic bonded warehouses – is being put out to public consultation.

The area is blighted with a complicated 1960s road system, including Plimsoll Bridge – a swing bridge that is still operational, and still brings traffic heading south out of the city grinding to a halt.

After decades of trying to deal with the area, the council is throwing it open to the public. New homes, community spaces, businesses, walking and cycling routes, roads and green spaces will all be considered by the masterplanning team led by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.

The council says the regeneration of Western Harbour provides “an opportunity to address the ageing road and bridge network in the area, respond to the challenges of a changing climate and the increasing threat of flooding, and build quality, affordable homes that the city needs, whilst also retaining and creating green space.”

Plimsoll Bridge

Council leader Tony Dyer said: “We’re at an exciting stage of the masterplanning for Western Harbour, and want to share our current thinking and ideas to find out how you feel about them and if you consider them to be on the right track, before we develop detailed proposals.

“The feedback we receive during this engagement will help us understand if you support our ideas and will be considered alongside our findings from technical studies, ahead of further testing of options for the area.”

“We know Western Harbour has significant historical and cultural importance along with many well-established community uses. Work continues to ensure appropriate space is given to celebrate and retain these alongside identifying improvements to roads, and walking and cycling connections and building the new homes that are needed.”

As part of the engagement, Bristol City Council will be asking people a series of “What if?” questions on ideas relating to road alignment, flood defences, improving connections to the rest of the city and opportunities for active travel, enhancing the green and blue spaces, building new homes, and providing space for a variety of community uses.

All of the information describing current ideas, including the vision for Western Harbour, will be available online at www.harbourhopes.co.uk

The consultation closes on November 15.