Consultation launches on mammoth Temple Meads regeneration plans
It's being called one of the largest regeneration plans in Europe
Last updated 10th Jan 2023
A public consultation has opened on plans to completely transform Bristol Temple Meads and the surrounding area.
Labelled one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, since 2018 Bristol City Council has been working on plans to rejuvenate 130 hectares of land (that equates to around 182 football pitches) and now they want your thoughts on what they have put together.
Details of the scheme were first revealed in 2022 and include plans to create several new entrances to the train station, new office space and homes, shops and restaurants in the surrounding area.
It comes as work has already started to create a new University of Bristol campus on the East side of the station, while Temple Island, which was once earmarked for a music venue, will become home to offices, a hotel and a conference centre.
The Temple Quarter Regeneration Programme, to give it its official title, is a partnership between Bristol City Council (BCC), the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), Homes England and Network Rail and has been made possible in part thanks to £94.7 million awarded by the government in June 2022.
WATCH: Our special video report on the Temple Quarter Regeneration Project
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees says he feels relieved that the work has reached this stage.
“Publishing this document is another step on the journey for Temple Quarter after years of work to get to this stage," he said.
"The consultation is a chance for Bristolians to get their fingerprints on the framework and test the emerging principles for the regeneration of St Philip’s Marsh.
"Underpinned by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Temple Quarter can be a driver of the city region’s economy and support our ambitions to be inclusive, successful and carbon neutral.”
WECA Mayor Dan Norris, who leads transport policy across the Bristol and Bath area, says they want to make Temple Quarter "the best it can be".
"It’s now possible to move to this stage after the West of England Combined Authority I lead unlocked substantial government funding in April," he said.
"This is another step along the way to get on with what people really want.
"That is to stop talking about visions and aspirations for the area, but to see real spades in the ground.
"We are creating a new gateway to the city and wider region that would make Brunel proud.”
You can find a link to the consultation and more information on the proposals, at the bottom of this article.
The plans
The entire Temple Quarter site is broken down into six "character areas" as follows:
- Bristol Temple Meads Train Station
- City Gateway
- Friary North
- Temple Gate
- Mead Street
- St Philip's Marsh
The Temple Quarter Development Framework sets out the vision for Temple Meads as "to deliver a modern, safe and efficient station, with improvements that celebrate its unique heritage", while it is stressed they want the wider area to become "a fitting welcome to the city of Bristol".
Bristol Temple Meads
Several improvements inside the station are proposed, including changes to the platforms, canopies and tracks as well as the aforementioned new entrances.
These include new waiting rooms on platforms 4, 8/10 and 9/11, widening platforms 13/15 to help with "passenger flow" and building a new passenger bridge within the main shed, to help alleviate demand on the existing subway.
Perhaps the main internal change however, will be the removal of the covered long stay parking in the Midland Shed, so the area can be transformed into a new station foyer with ticket offices and retail space.
It is estimated that this work could be completed in five years.
City Gateway
This area is described as "the interface" between the train station and the city.
It includes the public areas immediately outside the station buildings, for example the station approach where taxis and buses currently pick up and drop off passengers outside the main station entrance.
In this area, it is proposed that the forecourt immediately outside the station entrance can be expanded to create "a generous and pleasant station square", which the authorities in charge say could also create potential opportunities for retail.
The current bus stops would be relocated to the Friary, while taxis would stay, but with the rank pushed further away from the main station entrance.
Private cars would not be allowed access to this area as they are currently, with the exception of blue badge holders.
Northern Entrance and terrace
The current Northern Entrance features a small path that leads from the Friary into the main station through the Midland Shed.
Two options for new entrances have been proposed here. Either:
- Keeping separate entrances from the Station Approach and the Friary, with the Friary entrance widened and leading out onto an open terrace area.
- A single or internally linked pair of entrances at the southern end of the Midland Shed from the Station Approach
A terrace area is proposed outside the Midland Shed on the northern side, which will see routes converge from several areas including;
- The Friary
- The new, relocated bus stops
- The Goods Yard
- The Midland Shed, concourse and ticket hall
The Friary
The Friary, which is the area to the left of the station as you stand outside the current main entrance facing in, would be transformed under these proposals to become in effect, the new main entrance.
"Temple Meads would effectively turn to face the Friary, rather than the current impression that the route is behind the station," the Framework document reads.
As already mentioned, the existing bus stops at the Station Approach would be moved to the south end of the Friary by Redcliffe Way, where there would be more space for them and bus shelters: It's said there is space for eight bus stands, with the chance of a ninth.
At the northern end of the Friary, which is currently a "shared space" between pedestrians, cyclists and cars, this would be changed to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
However, a new private car drop off loop would be created from Temple Back East.
There is also the opportunity, it's said, to create a cycle link between the Brunel Mile and the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, from Meads Reach Bridge (the Cheesegrater) around the north side of the Friary, with a new crossing over the mouth of the Friary.
Cycle parking in this area will be expanded, while it is "highly desirable" that buildings at the northern end of the Friary develop "active frontages" including shelter for pedestrians.
Southern Gateway
This would become the primary entrance for people arriving at Temple Meads via private car.
The Bath Road/Fish Dock site would be redeveloped to feature a multi-storey car park, accessible by pedestrians and cyclists as well as cars from Bath Road.
There is potential, the Framework says, for direct pedestrian access from this site to the train station at railway level, across the River Avon.
Long stay and short stay car parking would be moved here, but with less parking spots available overall.
It is proposed a commercial office building could also feature on this site.
Across these sites within the City Gateway, vehicle access would be maintained for the following stakeholders:
- Network Rail
- Great Western Railway
- CrossCountry Trains
- Railway contractors
- British Transport Police
- Emergency services
- Retail businesses
- New commercial building staff and residents in new homes
Friary North
According to the Framework document this area will be transformed to "provide a lively destination" where people can live, work and enjoy leisure time.
Currently this area features 1.2 hectares of land immediately north of the train station, which is largely used for car parking, with one short pedestrian route to the station entrance.
The south end is currently used for private car parking and houses Boxworks, the two-storey shipping container workspace.
It is proposed that this area will become primarily an open square, with the Passenger Shed opened up and the frontage developed for things like cafes, shops, restaurants or offices.
It will be linked to the new bus stops on the Friary.
As well as this, it is said the area could accommodate "high density city centre apartments", while the south end could feature a stop as part of Bristol's proposed mass transit system, which Mayor Marvin Rees hopes will include some form of underground network.
Temple Gate
This area is 2.5 hectares of land to the south west of Temple Meads and features the eastern end of the Redcliffe neighbourhood and the area around Bristol & Exeter House.
The building frontage, which is visible as you leave the Station Approach, features a pub and retail shops on the ground floor, below a Holiday Inn.
On the corner of the Bath Bridge Roundabout is a car dealership with several garage buildings behind, while Bristol & Exeter Yard opposite is used primarily for station servicing, users of Bristol & Exeter and Collett House and several tenants in the arches beneath the Station Approach, including a popular bakery.
It is proposed that many of these buildings would be demolished, to allow for new offices, a new hotel and homes, while the Bristol & Exeter Yard would continue to be used for station servicing vehicles and rail replacement buses.
Mead Street
It is proposed that this area could be used to create a new "urban neighbourhood" featuring a mix of homes and workspaces, plus sustainable travel routes to help connect Bedminster and areas further afield, with Temple Meads.
Changes would include wider footways and segregated cycle lanes, plus an added pedestrian and cyclist crossing point on St Luke's Road.
St Philip's Marsh
St Philip's Marsh comprises the largest of the six areas earmarked for development.
It features within it:
- University of Bristol Enterprise Campus (yet to be built)
- Temple Island (formerly proposed as a home for a Bristol music arena)
- Silverthorne Island
- St Philip's Marsh
Total development of this area, BCC suggests would take between 10 and 30 years and would be used to create a mix of homes, office space, student accommodation, leisure and education facilities based on the concept of "a place of many places".
Broadly speaking, the north west area closest to the train station will be an employment led area, primarily featuring the University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, but also Temple Island and Silverthorne Island.
Southern St Philip's March will be residential led and focused along a new riverside park, while the north east area will be a mix of residential and business space.
North West St Philip's Marsh
The Enterprise Campus will be built on the site of the former Royal Mail Sorting Office immediately East of Temple Meads Station.
It will focus on digital, business and social innovation and have space for 3,000 students and around 800 members of staff, also featuring student accommodation on Temple Island.
It is also proposed the campus will host public leisure and cultural activities including lectures and networking events to make it open to the wider city as well as just students.
A new eastern entrance to Temple Meads will provide direct access between the train station and the campus.
Silverthorne Island will feature a mix of business and residential space including bars, restaurants and cafes as well as Motion nightclub, an already hugely popular night time venue in the city.
Proposals also include a new secondary school and more student accommodation, for which some planning applications have already been submitted to Bristol City Council.
The final part of this area, Temple Island, is earmarked for up to 500 new homes, office space, a 350-room hotel and conference centre as well as bars, cafes and retail space.
South St Philip's Marsh
The idea is this area will become a new residential neighbourhood, enabled by new flood defences along the River Avon.
It is suggested a new park or "green corridor" could be created along the waterfront to provide cycling and walking routes to and from the city, plus space for leisure riders, walkers or runners from the neighbourhood.
It's thought a new primary school could also be built, while the pattern of streets would be created to enable easy walking and cycling access to the park.
North East St Philip's Marsh
It's thought this area could primarily become home, again enabled by new flood defences, to "higher value and more intensive employment" development.
Currently the area is home to "an eclectic mix" of businesses, but the vision is that it would become a specialist area for advanced manufacturing, science and technology businesses as well as the creative industries.
It's proposed that existing light industrial and manufacturing businesses could be relocated elsewhere in St Philip's Marsh where they would be more compatible.
The consultation
To make sure as many people as possible give their opinions on the proposals, an online consultation hub and survey will be supported by in-person events at community hubs around the Temple Quarter area.
There will also be pop-ups in and around Temple Meads station.
You can find the consultation hub, where you can complete the survey, find out about the programme of events or request alternative formats, here.
Marianne Brooke is Home England's Project Director for Temple Quarter.
“This marks another important step forward in the regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter," she said.
"The Programme will transform brownfield land into desirable, sustainable neighbourhoods, providing thousands of much-needed new homes and jobs, and creating communities people can be proud to be part of.
"The Development Framework is a crucial document to set out how this ambition project will be delivered, and the consultation offers an important opportunity for the local community to input.”
Francis McGarry from Network Rail meanwhile, says they are "delighted" to reach this stage.
"Building on the current improvements to the station including the refurbishment of the historic train shed roof, as well as the clever new track layout completed in summer 2021, the regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter will further enhance the station into a world class transport hub and the beating heart of this exciting wider development, benefitting passengers, the city of Bristol and wider West of England region," he said.
More information on the project is available here.