Interesting article really, i've heard about thsi but have never really seen anythink concrete apart fromt he Redcliffe future SPD, which really didn't shed much light on the future of redcliffe way.

I have to agree that the council have been so slow with planning this area, nothing has happened for years. Its a tricky site but one that could be very rewarding.

I have to agree that the council have been so slow with planning this area, nothing has happened for years.

They seem to have concentrated their efforts on refurbishing all those horrid tower blocks in Redcliffe South ... :wallbash: :puke:

Not sure how I feel about the Redcliffe Wharf scheme; even though I'm glad that the site is being developed, I'm afraid of it all ending up looking a bit out of place. Hard to tell from the images though.

Glad to hear about the Feeder Canal develoment(s), I always thought there's a lot of potential there that's currently wasted by the industrial estates, especially the bits along the water. Would be great if there was a nice, non-industrial link between the Paintworks area and Temple Meads one day.

That article about developing Redcliffe way has got me all excited and moist. Looks like a public square is in the plan too from the looks of it. It'll never be approved :cry:

Not so keen on the proposal for St phillips.

Is there any hope for a PTE for the Bristol area? Don't think we'll ever get LRT without one...

That's a really good question.

Apparently the new Local Transport Act that just been passed will allow a group of local authorities to band together to create an Integrated Transport Authority which will have similar powers to those of a PTE. Bristol City Council voted in favour of create a (Greater) Bristol Integrated Transport Authority back in July 2007, and South Gloucestershire voted in favour of it in January 2008. BANES discussed the issue without making a decision in May and I don't know what North Somerset's position is.

I would guess that it is likely to happen, and although theoretically it could be set up in 2009, I doubt if anything will happen that quickly with 2011-12 probably being more likely IMHO.

It seems strange that of the eight "core" English cities only the two smallest (i.e. us and Nottingham) don't have a PTE. Not that it has stopped Nottingham going ahead with their Light Rail System http://www.thetram.net/features/video.asp which they are now looking to expand http://www.netphasetwo.com/ (apparently nobody told them that bus is the way forward. The effect of the tram has been a major contributor to the fact the Nottingham is the only one of the core cities that outperforms Bristol in per capita terms in several areas (of the other cities, only Leeds tends to be competitive on per capita terms). Whilst we celebrate getting into the top ten for shopping, they are consolidating their top 5 position.

Specialist out-of-town investment fund The Junction has signed Next to anchor the £6m Phase 4 redevelopment at Imperial Park, Bristol. This news comes as Tesco Home Plus opens the doors of its new 65,000-sq ft unit.

Next will trade from a newly built 20,000-sq ft unit taken on a 15-year lease at £25 per sq ft. In addition Phase 4 will provide a further 50,000 sq ft of predominantly Open A1 convenience and A3 units. Existing retailers at Imperial Retail Park include JJB Sports, B & Q, Woolworths, Peacocks, Argos and Pizza Hut.

John Gatley, managing director at The Junction said: “Both these lettings complement the offer at Imperial Park, Bristol by adding to the fashion and homes specialist range already available. Phase 4 is the next step in our programme of investment at Imperial Park, introducing new retailers as well as new CCTV and car parking facilities.”

http://www.thejunction-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/bristol_aerial.jpg

They still have space for future development...

http://www.thejunction-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/bristol_plans-3.gif

Erm - Gee that's really really old news.

Tesco Homeplus opened early 2007 - and Next opened December 2007. I had a temp job in Tesco last Christmas for 2 weeks before I went back to Uni.

Of course, Woolworths in now closing down in 2 weeks time and, apart from Next and the 'Homestyle' store next to it, the rest of phase 3 is still empty a year after it was finished. So, I'm not holding my breath for phase 4 starting up anytime soon. There were rumours that M+S were going to open one of their foodstores there as well but nothing has happened yet - maybe they're waiting until Lakeshore, the Urban Splash residential redevelopment of the old Wills HQ building, next door is finished and more people live on the doorstep.

Erm - Gee that's really really old news.

Tesco Homeplus opened early 2007 - and Next opened December 2007. I had a temp job in Tesco last Christmas for 2 weeks before I went back to Uni.

Of course, Woolworths in now closing down in 2 weeks time and, apart from Next and the 'Homestyle' store next to it, the rest of phase 3 is still empty a year after it was finished. So, I'm not holding my breath for phase 4 starting up anytime soon. There were rumours that M+S were going to open one of their foodstores there as well but nothing has happened yet - maybe they're waiting until Lakeshore, the Urban Splash residential redevelopment of the old Wills HQ building, next door is finished and more people live on the doorstep.

yeah i realized after i posted it... woops!

I see the Malago (PRING) development is under way.
My image hosting capabilities seem to have disappeared - can anyone put up some photos of Temple quay central, as it is coming along quite well now.

Just came back.It was fantastic. Such a lovely historic city. :)

Why thank you kind sir!
Where did you visit?

I was back over Xmas. I took the brand new 2nd Showcase bus route (Centre - Hanham/Kingswood). Much improvement, clean new 58 registered double deckers, GPS countdown at shelter stops, part dedicated bus lanes and priority green lights. Would need to test it on a work day commute though.

Is it actually GPS countdown at the stops though? Or just 'well it's timetabled to be around about then' countdown? On the first showcase route (Hartcliffe to centre and beyond) I'm pretty sure its just a 'timetabled' countdown because I've been waiting at the stop and the buses didn't arrive at anytime anywhere near what the display was saying.

And, I've said this in the past a few times as well. I hate the whole concept of a 'showcase' bus route. A bus route were the buses are clean, accessible and reliable? Other cities provide that as standard and yet we have to shout about how great it is that there's 2 routes now in the city that's offers that now? That's just embarrassing.

There is a new website for Bank Place the former Clerical Medical (Temple Way House) building:

http://www.bankplacebristol.com/

The latest issue of Venue magazine contains an article with some photos (http://flickr.com/photos/fray_bentos) of Bristol in earlier times, some of which I found quite fascinating, e.g.:

Newfoundland St - 1974, 1980, 2006:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/52/133050985_35d66901fb.jpg?v=1229532183 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/133051015_67f1fca52c.jpg?v=1229519901 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/133050962_cb9e241863.jpg?v=1158054201

Redcliff Backs - 1975:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/208904222_73ef480fbc.jpg?v=1225925234
(things do change for the better sometimes)

Victoria St, 1974:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/277769795_44d0cc4e16.jpg?v=1226140386
(fly-over in the background!?)

Oh dear...

M+S have announced their closing 27 'underperforming' stores (25 Simply Food, 2 normal stores). One of the ones closing is that one down on Harbourside. So, if that's underperforming, how are the other businesses down there doing?

Shame about M&S, is now gonna be really dead down there. I'm sure someone else will step up eventually probably another tesco or something! Exciting!!! In the Long term when Harbourside is completed and fully occupied it a convience store will do well, until then and given the current climate, its just going to struggle.

At least there appears to be some action on the blue reef aquarium in the old wildwalk @bristol, supposed to open at the tail end of the summer.

Had a wander about at lunch and saw that work on the new Tulip Inn (Hotel) on Lewins mead had started. They are currently in the process of demolishing the Old Hill House Hammond Building on the corner near St James Church. Looks like the artichoke is gone too! Sorry no pics, didn't have my camera!

its not 100% that the harbourside M&S is closing... M&S are looking at sites that are under performing but have no future potential and lets face it M&S in harbourside has loads of potential... They will have to see whether its worth holding on and riding the wave ready for the good times... I think it may go personally but it would be a shame...

Also how are Zavvi keeping both stores in central Bristol (after their recent cuts etc)? They are a stones throw from each other and I cant believe they both make money... They closed stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle etc...

its not 100% that the harbourside M&S is closing... M&S are looking at sites that are under performing but have no future potential and lets face it M&S in harbourside has loads of potential... They will have to see whether its worth holding on and riding the wave ready for the good times... I think it may go personally but it would be a shame...

Also how are Zavvi keeping both stores in central Bristol (after their recent cuts etc)? They are a stones throw from each other and I cant believe they both make money... They closed stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle etc...

This M&S is on the M&S list... proposed...

http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/documents/press_releases/2009/Q3_store_closure

Is it actually GPS countdown at the stops though? Or just 'well it's timetabled to be around about then' countdown? On the first showcase route (Hartcliffe to centre and beyond) I'm pretty sure its just a 'timetabled' countdown because I've been waiting at the stop and the buses didn't arrive at anytime anywhere near what the display was saying.

And, I've said this in the past a few times as well. I hate the whole concept of a 'showcase' bus route. A bus route were the buses are clean, accessible and reliable? Other cities provide that as standard and yet we have to shout about how great it is that there's 2 routes now in the city that's offers that now? That's just embarrassing.

The First buses website says that the buses have GPS. I assume they are linked to the bus stops for real time countdown but I might be wrong. Certainly the 45 I was waiting for arrived on time when the countdown said it was due...

RE Showcase routes, I agree and have said the same thing in the past. however, as I consider myself just a visitor to Bristol these days I'm not going to lose sleep about it and just go along with it. Everyone seems to love Bristol anyway despite its shortcomings.

Btw what is the project underway by the Council House car park where the old council building was knocked down, forget the name.

The GPS system is linked to a control centre which 'manages' the buses through direct radio link with the drivers like a with taxis. The idea is to prevent buses from stacking (ie one lead bus picks up all the passengers on a route, meaning the next bus is quicker because of less stops and catches up the first), and to make them more punctual.

I have no idea whether the bus stop information boards are linked to this though, although it would make sense.

Shame about M&S, is now gonna be really dead down there. I'm sure someone else will step up eventually probably another tesco or something! Exciting!!! In the Long term when Harbourside is completed and fully occupied it a convience store will do well, until then and given the current climate, its just going to struggle.

At least there appears to be some action on the blue reef aquarium in the old wildwalk @bristol, supposed to open at the tail end of the summer.

Had a wander about at lunch and saw that work on the new Tulip Inn (Hotel) on Lewins mead had started. They are currently in the process of demolishing the Old Hill House Hammond Building on the corner near St James Church. Looks like the artichoke is gone too! Sorry no pics, didn't have my camera!

Like this:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/Somerset24/P1020738.jpg?t=1231607474

Btw what is the project underway by the Council House car park where the old council building was knocked down, forget the name.

Cabot House by Westmark Developments... Its going to be 55 Apartments and The New National HQ for the Environment Agency (Pre-Let 70,000 Sq Ft) plus some Retail space (4000 Sq Ft) and more commercial (30,000 Sq Ft)...

Cabot House by Westmark Developments... Its going to be 55 Apartments and The New National HQ for the Environment Agency (Pre-Let 70,000 Sq Ft) plus some Retail space (4000 Sq Ft) and more commercial (30,000 Sq Ft)...

See http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3110003

If you have ten minutes spare here is an interesting but quite lengthy desciption of the Bridewell Island site with photos of the courtyard and the current state of things internally including the basement cells, which they want to turn into a health club using the underground prision cells as steam rooms.

www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1712

And slightly surprising yet pleasing news that Bristol has been selected as one of the world’s ‘Top 10 Cities for 2009’ by DK Eyewitness, the world’s best-selling guidebook publisher.

http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/visitor-information/news/2008/12/23/bristol-named-one-of-the-worlds-top-10-cities-to-visit-a32

I see Glassfieilds website no longer works does this mean the office development is now off permanently??

Why thank you kind sir!
Where did you visit?

Cabot Circus,down by the river,bordeaux quay,broadmead.
Didn't have much time really.I was impressed. But there seems to be too much shite architecture. :ohno:

Like this:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/Somerset24/P1020738.jpg?t=1231607474

Soon to become this:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/188/tulipinnlewinsmead2so0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/tulipinnlewinsmead2so0.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img101/tulipinnlewinsmead2so0.jpg/1/)

If you have ten minutes spare here is an interesting but quite lengthy desciption of the Bridewell Island site with photos of the courtyard and the current state of things internally including the basement cells, which they want to turn into a health club using the underground prision cells as steam rooms.

www.urbexforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1712

And slightly surprising yet pleasing news that Bristol has been selected as one of the world’s ‘Top 10 Cities for 2009’ by DK Eyewitness, the world’s best-selling guidebook publisher.

http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/visitor-information/news/2008/12/23/bristol-named-one-of-the-worlds-top-10-cities-to-visit-a32

I see Glassfieilds website no longer works does this mean the office development is now off permanently??


Nice pics of Bridewell island, I've previously posted a link to 28dayslater forum with pictures of Bridewell, old fire station and inside the old Magistrates court too. You should check this out too.

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27027

Great news of the D&K top 10, does this mean that Bristol will get a top ten guide book like other cities in the range?

Glassfields has a new website:
http://www.sywebspace.co.uk/glassfields/one_glassfields.html

Hi guys.
Great forum !! A lot of information’s. We are about to start a new company in Bristol to help architects and planners. I hope to add some more nice content in the future.
Meanwhile.
Have you got any info about Cabot Tower? It's closed for a while now.
Regards

Hi guys.
Great forum !! A lot of information’s. We are about to start a new company in Bristol to help architects and planners. I hope to add some more nice content in the future.
Meanwhile.
Have you got any info about Cabot Tower? It's closed for a while now.
Regards

BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7251538.stm said in Feb 2008 :

Repairs to a Bristol landmark which was closed amid safety concerns are likely to cost about £70,000.
The Cabot Tower was found to have some cracks in the stonework due to movement over the years.

A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "We are looking to appoint a specialist contractor to oversee and commission the repair works.

"This includes embedding steel girdles into the stonework. This... may well take several months to complete."

In July 2007, the tower was closed for five days for work on its spiral staircase.

Thx Weston1
BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7251538.stm said in Feb 2008 :

A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "We are looking to appoint a specialist contractor to oversee and commission the repair works.


Do any one know, how is this project going? Did they found a contractor to do the job etc.?

If anyone doesn't have anything urgent to do at 2pm today, they might like to watch this:


Last year you took part in a consultation about the construction of two wind turbines on a disused Shell oil tank site off Severn Road in Avonmouth. You indicated on your feedback form that you would like to be kept informed.

On Wednesday 14 January at 2pm, the planning application will be considered by the Development Control (North) Committee. The council webcasts (broadcasts live over the internet) certain meetings in order to improve openness and transparency and you can watch this committee live at:

http://www.bristol.public-i.tv/site/

The wind turbine application is the first item on the agenda.

If you are unable to watch live, the footage of this committee will also be available to review from Friday 16 January for 6 months at:

http://www.bristol.public-i.tv/site/player/index.php?a=19687&l=en_GB

We are webcasting meetings as part of a pilot project supported by the European Union. We welcome your feedback on how you found the service:

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/surveyopen/?name=_webcasting_evaluation

Thank you

The Consultation Team


Also on the agenda seemed to be the redevelopment of the former swimming pool in Henbury into a supermarket and flats.

Also how are Zavvi keeping both stores in central Bristol (after their recent cuts etc)? They are a stones throw from each other and I cant believe they both make money... They closed stores in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle etc...

Strangely, Zavvi have announced more cuts today - including their main flagship store in Piccadilly but again - both the Bristol stores are staying open!

what about the one in the mall?

Strangely, Zavvi have announced more cuts today - including their main flagship store in Piccadilly but again - both the Bristol stores are staying open!

I saw the other day how close those zavvi's are. It's really quite bizarre that in a period of closures neither have gone. I'm sure they are both doing well, but not that well (!?!?) Often the lease agreements and caveats come into these things as well of course.

Hi guys.
I tried to use a search but that seems to not work :(
Have you got any info about St Mary-le-Port development?
Regards
Peter

Plans to build two new hospitals in Bristol have been agreed by health bosses.

The NHS South West board approved a new £374m "super hospital" at Southmead, bringing together services currently at Southmead and Frenchay.

They also backed funding for a new £54m community hospital at Hengrove Park in the south of the city...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7832569.stm

Hi guys.
I tried to use a search but that seems to not work :(
Have you got any info about St Mary-le-Port development?
Regards
Peter

There is this, which I check every month or so...but no news on the decision about village green status..

http://www.stmaryleport.com/index.php

Nice pics of Bridewell island, I've previously posted a link to 28dayslater forum with pictures of Bridewell, old fire station and inside the old Magistrates court too. You should check this out too.

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27027

Great news of the D&K top 10, does this mean that Bristol will get a top ten guide book like other cities in the range?

Glassfields has a new website:
http://www.sywebspace.co.uk/glassfields/one_glassfields.html

Thanks for that - much better photos on your link, a very exciting site for Bristol in the longer term. We certainly have the right developer in urban splash although I have noticed even they have made a few redundancies recently.

I had a look at the D&K website but nothing on their about Bristol so far. Not sure if Bristol will get it's own book but I would say i could be on the cards. They may well do one including the surrounding areas as well but use Bristol as the main theme.

I see the glass is being fitted to St Catherine's court, 1 College Square is up to the fourth floor, the key worker bus station is at the 8 floor and looking quite imposing. Burges Salmon development is really taking place, Ardman's HQ and SS Great Britian is also progressing sharpish.

On Cabot Gate, Bank House, HDG's Finzels Reach and Greenfields which office deevlopments are definately on and construction started or has a date to start. do you know at tall?

I see the glass is being fitted to St Catherine's court, 1 College Square is up to the fourth floor, the key worker bus station is at the 8 floor and looking quite imposing. Burges Salmon development is really taking place, Ardman's HQ and SS Great Britian is also progressing sharpish.


Beat me to it - we must have crossed paths at some point today!
The key worker building certainly is looking quite imposing - more so than I had anticipated - and softens the skyline with regards to that ugly monster next door to it (the Travel inn or whatever it is called), which was a pleasant suprise.
Also, the 'Eye', at Temple circus central is coming along well, and is beginning to add some weight to that area.

Regarding the status of some of the developments - in a lot of cases where finance is tight, you might see that where demolition is required this will proceed but that in some cases, construction of the replacement buildings may be delayed. This is because site owners now have to pay higher taxes if a piece of land has buildings on it, so it makes sense to level the site. There is however, only one root source for a delay in construction if planning permission has been granted - changes in financing and costings.

A quick tour of the city centre indicates which sites are proceeding (and thus, presumably, are fully financed) and which are in limbo (and maybe have problems releasing the finance needed for the next stage, or the original costings no longer add up).

A blueprint for a new cross-Bristol rail network is being drawn up to ease the area's chronic congestion.

It would use almost entirely existing lines, with new trains running at half-hourly intervals covering the whole Bristol area.

In the long-term, the plan will also include the long-hoped-for Portishead link into the city, which would involve bringing a disused stretch of line back into service.

Before that, it could mean more rolling stock, more cross-region services and millions of pounds spent on station projects.

Campaigners see the so-called Bristol Metro scheme as a possible breakthrough in the battle to solve the area's traffic crisis.

Congestion costs the local economy £350 million a year. Even the first stages of the Metro project are expected to start to ease the pressures by getting commuters out of their cars and on to trains.

Over the next five years they are expected to include:

● More half-hourly services on the routes between Weston and Yate and between Cardiff and Westbury (Wiltshire) via Bath and Bristol.

● New, high-capacity rolling stock, which is more economical, with faster acceleration. This would be additional stock, not replacements.

● A new bay platform at Weston-super-Mare and a new facility to turn around trains at Yate.

Government funding of nearly £20 million is being sought for these projects, which should be completed by the spring of 2014.

The West of England Partnership of local councils (Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North-East Somerset) has applied to the South West Regional Assembly for support.

Ministers at the Department for Transport are likely to look favourably on funding recommendations put forward by the assembly.

But the assembly – made up of local councillors, businesses and voluntary sector representatives – is set to be abolished next year.

Its responsibilities are being handed over to the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), which yesterday held a meeting in Exeter in order to discuss a range of regional schemes for transport, housing and the economy.

If it goes ahead, the Metro scheme will eventually link Portishead with Bristol and the Severn Beach line.

This is described in the document as "future development" not included in the initial project.

Trains will then be routed back via Temple Meads and Henbury to Bristol Parkway.

This is a long-term aim and would mean finding space for passenger trains on what is already a busy freight route.

Reliability, punctuality and rail access to the Bristol area will be improved even by the first stages of the Metro project, says the West of England's application.

The work carried out over the next five years will support jobs and housing, it is hoped.

Thousands of families moving into new homes in the West will share in the benefits of more efficient transport services.

There could be as many as 12,000 in Weston-super-Mare, another 10,500 on the south-western edge of Bristol, 3,000 at Yate and at Keynsham and 8,000 in Bath.

In the 10 years from 1997, rail travel doubled in the West.

The partnership's application to the assembly says: "Existing services have suffered from short trains leading to overcrowding and even passengers left behind on stations."

The application says the Bristol Metro will deliver a better local rail network, complementing train company First Great Western's plans for 11 new four-carriage trains on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route.

"The West of England's vision is for a buoyant economy, a rising quality of life for all and easier local, national and international travel. The Bristol Metro will help deliver the vision's priorities," the document says.

The immediate plans for more rolling stock and enhanced services would be linked to a fourth platform at Bristol Parkway and resignalling between Bath Spa and Temple Meads through Network Rail's business plan.

Future developments would include half-hourly services on the Severn Beach line linked to reopened lines to and from Portishead and Henbury.

Funding is being separately applied for over the Portishead project.

Other later schemes could include a double line between Worle and Weston-super-Mare, longer trains and platforms.

The model for the Bristol Metro follows projects which are already up and running for frequent, cross-city services in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Merseyside.

Possible First Phase of the Metro System... Bristol Airport and BCFC etc etc other major areas will be included later...
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/bristolmetromap.jpg

An excellent plan.

Although it could all go to pot I'm quite excited about the possibilty of the reopening of the portishead line! The reopening Charfield station was also a pleasant surprise (maybe other areas like Thornbury, Clevedon, Midsomer norton & Northeast/south glos Bristol will get some form of rail or light rail one day... one day :|)

Some park and ride sites to the east of Bristol would be a nice addition too :shifty:

Where exactly did you get this, Gee?

That all looks really promising - right up to the line which says that the West of England partnership is being wound up next year and the SWRDA will be taking over.

The SWRDA is not a friend of Bristol. They've taken almost 20 years to redevelop the area around Temple Meads after they took over the work of the previous Bristol Development Corporation - and as part of that, obviously, they promised and then scrapped the Arena plans. The SWRDA is based in Exeter and is paranoid about people thinking that it's ignoring the rest of the South West whenever it does anything for Bristol - so therefore it does nothing for Bristol.

Plan is in http://www.westofengland.org/media/86162/bristol%20metro%20map.pdf

in http://www.westofengland.org/transport/rail#Access%20for%20all%20small%20stations%20schemes

'Greater Bristol Metro'- Cross Bristol Train Services


The West of England Partnership and First Great Western are keen to promote a ‘Greater Bristol Metro’ style network of cross Bristol train services building on the work of the Rail Action Plan.

Potential features would include:

Half hourly clock face services with separation of intercity, regional and local services
Local network with proposed end points of Taunton, Gloucester, Cardiff and Westbury
Cardiff to Portsmouth inter urban service and new all stations service Cardiff to Westbury
New infrastructure including Weston-super-Mare bay platform, Yate turnback, reopened Portishead line, third and fourth lines on the Filton Bank and Westbury station
Four car trains standard with possible extension to six along with platform lengthening
The concept of a ‘Greater Bristol Metro’ is a key part of our Route Utilisation Strategy evidence.

In October 2008 the West of England Partnership submitted a ‘Greater Bristol Metro’ Expression of Interest for inclusion in the South West Region’s 10 year Regional Funding Allocation. The South West Regional Assembly will decide on schemes for future funding in February 2009.

The scheme will complement First Great Western’s proposed bid for 11 new four carriage trains on the Cardiff to Portsmouth route.

That all looks really promising - right up to the line which says that the West of England partnership is being wound up next year and the SWRDA will be taking over.

The SWRDA is not a friend of Bristol. They've taken almost 20 years to redevelop the area around Temple Meads after they took over the work of the previous Bristol Development Corporation - and as part of that, obviously, they promised and then scrapped the Arena plans. The SWRDA is based in Exeter and is paranoid about people thinking that it's ignoring the rest of the South West whenever it does anything for Bristol - so therefore it does nothing for Bristol.

I wouldn't say the SWRDA was a particular friend of the rest of the south west either in many respects given they don't seem to get much done anywhere, bless em.

I suppose all we can do is sit and wait and if they do funk it up... er it'll give us more reasons to hate and criticise them *sigh* I guess we just have to wait and see *sigh*

Plans for offices, homes and a hotel as part of a major development aimed at reviving the heart of Bristol's historic Redcliffe area have been unveiled.

Developer CEREP Redcliffe Sarl wants to knock down derelict warehouses and industrial buildings in St Thomas Street and replace them with a mixed-use development including a central public square.

Bristol City Council is considering the application for the two-acre site, which is bordered by Three Queens Lane and Redcliff Street.

Under the plans, four buildings up to eight storeys high would feature two office blocks with 16,000sq ft of space, 164 one and two-bedroom flats, a 250-room hotel, student accommodation, a medical centre and shops.

They would replace old buildings formerly used as a timber storage yard, including premises previously occupied by Patterson's and Pilkington's, and would be built above a basement car park with 60 spaces, 70 cycle spaces and 10 motorbike spaces.
Click here!

The developers, part of the Carlyle Group, hope the planned public square, new pedestrian routes, extra seating, street trees, narrowed streets and shops will encourage more people into the area.

A statement, submitted with the application by GVA Grimley on behalf of the applicants, says: "The proposals are ideally suited to meeting the demands and pressures of the site, local area and region in a sustainable way.

"It is a unique opportunity to deliver a high-quality mixed-use scheme, which should not be missed.

"The proposals will not only provide a sensitive and sustainable redevelopment of this site but will also facilitate improvements to the public realm, education, community facilities, and visual amenity of this part of Redcliffe."

Consultation on the plans with groups including community organisation Redcliffe Futures and the Bristol Civic Society has been under way since July 2008 and designs have been revised since then. The Carlyle Group bought the site from Persimmon Homes in 2007.

The development would be part of the "Redcliffe Village" project for offices, homes and community facilities in an area bounded by Redcliff Street, St Thomas Street, Thomas Lane and Three Queens Lane. Outline planning permission for the village was given in 2002 and lasts until 2012.

St Thomas Street, Three Queens Lane and Redcliff Street, which are used as shortcuts by commuters, will all be narrowed as part of the whole project.

Redcliffe Village, which was designed to be built in 11 phases, was expected to create more than 660 apartments, eight live-in studio workshops, offices, a creche, a health and fitness centre, shops and restaurants. It is hoped that a £750,000 footbridge linking Redcliffe with Welsh Back will be built as part of the project.

Work to build a new £25-million Bristol Civil Courts Centre in Redcliff Street is already under way.

Last year, plans from developer Midshires Estates for a five-storey block of flats on the old Gas World showroom in Redcliff Street were refused because they were too high and too large.

The decision on CEREP Redcliffe Sarl's application, which asks for detailed permission for the office buildings and outline permission for the rest of the development, is expected to be made by March.

Redcliffe Development (Ex Pilkington & Pattersons Warehouses) Full Site Plan:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-6743001.jpg

Redcliffe Development (Ex Pilkington & Pattersons Warehouses) View From Redcliffe Street:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-6742989-1.jpg

Redcliffe Development (Ex Pilkington & Pattersons Warehouses) View Through To Public Courtyard Shops etc:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-6743021.jpg

Redcliffe Development (Ex Pilkington & Pattersons Warehouses) View From South St Thomas St and Mitchell Lane:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-6745852.jpg

No soul but better than having the semi-deserted-industrial backwater it is at the moment I guess.
-----
Probably all know this about the airport expansion plan thing:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-Airport-reveals-expansion-plans/article-632215-detail/article.html

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/upload/bia_master_plan_high_resolution.pdf

Some highlights of the Airport thing in case you don't want to wade through the 200 page pdf file

The current proposals for the Site include:
Extension to the new terminal building - on both sides
New hotel to be built in the car park in front of Terminal Building
New Multistorey car park
Old terminal building (currently used for admin) to be demolished and new Airplane stands to be put on the site.
New admin building to be built next to the current Terminal building

On getting there in the first place:
No plans for a rail link at all - estimate cost of up to £500m for one based on current plans for Edinburgh Airport raillink
Development of the Airport Flyer brand and service with new routes to Clifton (calling at City Centre Hotels), Bath (via Keynsham) and Weston with a possible shuttle bus to Nailsea and Backwell train station (10 mins away on the bus).
BIA will 'play it's part' in working with the Greater Bristol Transport strategy which, amongst other things, includes the South Bristol Ring Road and the resiting of J21 on the M5 which would benefit the airport and possibly encourage National Express to start calling at the Airport on it's long distance routes from the South West.

Further into the future (post 2015 which is what this plan is meant to be working towards) there's the possibility of a 2nd terminal on the south side of the airport (where the overflow carpark is at the moment but no runway extension is planned.

Some highlights of the Airport thing in case you don't want to wade through the 200 page pdf file


The consultation leaflet (http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/upload/consultation_leaflet_jan2009_web.pdf) also has the gist of it.

Doesn't look too bad, but it's not exactly the stuff legends are made of either. Especially the airside additions (walkway etc.) look a bit disappointing - hopefully they turn out nicer than they look on the renders and nothing like the current airfield walkways, which are a bit shabby. At least we are to get piers :cheer:

I hope the terminal space airsides gets extended as well, it's already extremely cramped now, I don't really know how that's going to work with double the number of passengers.


New Multistorey car park


... with a 'transport hub' at the top, which would be level to the current terminal concourse, and linked to it by a bridge. It sure looks like a nice idea on paper, but I wonder how pleasant it will be to use in heavy rain + wind with these tiny covered areas which provide no real protection ...


Development of the Airport Flyer brand and service with new routes to Clifton (calling at City Centre Hotels), Bath (via Keynsham) and Weston with a possible shuttle bus to Nailsea and Backwell train station (10 mins away on the bus).


Bleh, more busses. Would be nice if the 'new fleet' of flyer busses they're promising were a different type of bus where you don't have to put your luggage into the hold but can take it straight with you onto the bus (like the busses from Barcelona El-Prat to the city centre).

A bus to Nailsea and Backwell station?

Where there are only loads of steps to the platform...

If they did start the service to Nailsea, the station would be upgraded - they'd also need to change access for the buses anyway - they said they'd want to setup access for the buses from the other end of the station.

Here are some pics from the consultation.
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6540/terminal1hb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/terminal1hb2.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img405/terminal1hb2.jpg/1/)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/2426/terminal2va1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/terminal2va1.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img405/terminal2va1.jpg/1/)
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5121/terminal3mq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/terminal3mq5.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img124/terminal3mq5.jpg/1/)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8954/airport1xe4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/airport1xe4.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img523/airport1xe4.jpg/1/)
This picture is taken from the 2006 Matser plan but gives an overall arial view of the airport. IN the new plan the multi-story carpark doesn't seem
to have a 'green roof'.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7986/airport2gt8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/airport2gt8.jpg/1/w1024.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img523/airport2gt8.jpg/1/)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5696/airport3pl4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/airport3pl4.jpg/1/w722.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img523/airport3pl4.jpg/1/)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7593/airport4be3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/airport4be3.jpg/1/w721.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img523/airport4be3.jpg/1/)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4744/airport5rg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/airport5rg2.jpg/1/w600.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img405/airport5rg2.jpg/1/)

All pics taken from http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/

looks very nice actually =) And there are actual jetways! :)

2 interesting stories in todays EP

North Somerset Council have appointed (I assume this means paid) Network Rail to do a technical evaluation of reopening the Portishead line http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/track-reopen-Portishead-Bristol-rail-link/article-649004-detail/article.html

Cabot Circus has had 7 million visitors since is opened which has put Broadmead firming back in the top ten shopping destinations in the UK http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Seven-million-people-visited-Cabot-Circus-months/article-649046-detail/article.html (think it had dropped to around number 23ish before Cabot Circus opened).

This thread was really hard to track down!

Shouldn't Bristol have it's own sub forum?

I think i'll spend some of tomorrow reading all this properly.

There's no-where near enough posts on this topic, or indeed specific developments going on in the region anyway, that would warrant Bristol having it's own sub-forum.

Even if you combined Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas into a 'West of England' forum, you would still only have 4 or 5 threads in it and not very many posts in any of them.

The University of Bristol has put in a planning application (http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KCC3BPDN08900) to redevelop the corner of Tyndall Avenue and St. Michael's Hill and put up two buildings to house its Maths and Bio-Science faculties.

No renderings sadly. The drawings look a bit underwhelming, especially the building at the corner, but maybe that's just my lack of imagination when looking at the drawings.

Is that the site they considered putting up a 'sail-shaped' high-rise a while back, or was that somewhere else?

I quite like the maths building (the round one), I rather fear the one on the corner, for biology I think, may turn out to be every bit as dull as it looks. The proposed tower if it is ever built, is intended to be just up from where the university library is now.

The EP reports:


Plans to redevelop the eyesore Grosvenor Hotel site next to Bristol Temple Meads station have been rejected.

Members of Bristol City Council's development control committee ignored officers' recommendations to grant permission for the proposal.

They voted it down on the grounds that it was out of keeping with the area and an eight-storey building included in developer Temple Circus Development's plans was too tall.

(...)

Yeah - saw that. They've also got this though today.


How Bristol building projects are booming
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-building-projects-booming/article-661144-detail/article.html

Bristol is still booming when it comes to construction.
In an industry which is facing challenging times, there is a wealth of building work transforming the face of the city centre.
Work on the former Courage Brewery site will see it become Finzals Reach, a mixed-use scheme of homes and offices.
When it is completed, the one million sq ft development will not only be home to 1,000 people in 399 apartments, it will be a vibrant new city quarter complete with shops, cafe-bars, leisure facilities, public spaces and high quality offices.

I've added my comments to that debacle.

Really, no matter what the proposal, to simply come out with the same tedious, "its too tall", "its out of context" rhetoric is not good enough. Sadly, they'd say the same thing (and did) of even exceptionally well designed buildings simply because they are tall (and I mean properly tall, not 8 stories..)

This area should have had, a major transport interchange (train/bus/tram), multipurpose arena, major regional landmark tower. It has neither...

Can anyone update me (pictorially if possible) on progress on the Mobius bridge? I hardly ever get down to Castle Park.

Pretty sure the actual bridge isn't until the final phase of Finzels Reach after people start moving into the complex (and the developer has got his money back).

I didn't spot anything there at Xmas when I went down - but then I didn't really take a long hard look around that area.

If you just use this and scroll down you can view the two office building's progress to save time going through the site:

http://www.burges-salmon.co.uk/who_we_are/Office%20Relocation/Office_Relocation_2010.aspx

The EP reports:


Once again Bristol is denied development around the dreadful area immediately next to Temple Meads. What is their main concern exactly?? That it will take centre stage to one the worse example of 1960s concrete filth opposite the current entrance to Temple Meads. An abandoned petrol station/hotel and plants now growing from the island site plus a communist style block would be more in keeping with that area I suppose.

The only thing on their minds must be the preservation of Temple Meads and associated out buildings, but other important stations in other cities have much much taller developments which enhance not detract the historic beauty of those buildings in my view.

Once again Bristol is denied development around the dreadful area immediately next to Temple Meads. What is their main concern exactly?? That it will take centre stage to one the worse example of 1960s concrete filth opposite the current entrance to Temple Meads. An abandoned petrol station/hotel and plants now growing from the island site plus a communist style block would be more in keeping with that area I suppose. The only thing on their minds must be the preservation of Temple Meads and associated out buildings, (...)


My thoughts exactly. However, after reading the response section in the officer's report (http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/findCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=08/02566/F), I can't help but feel that there's something else to the rejection besides formalities and the developers not doing their homework properly (timely consultation, vistas, tall buildings stuff, high-quality cladding, etc.). And while it'd sure be nice if that site finally got redeveloped, I think the proposed scheme was at best mediocre. Better than what's there now, but not really making full use of the potential of the site either. I fail to believe that BCC/the development committee are more conservative than the English Heritage folks (who found the design apparently acceptable enough) - I think they just don't really know what to do with the entire area yet and are waiting for the plans for Plot6, the roundabout and the rapid transit route/interchange to mature a little bit more and don't want to have their options limited by the redevelopent of the Grosvenor Hotel site. Not sure if that's plausible, but they probably couldn't just reject the application on those grounds, could they?

I think, although I suspect there's more knowledgable people on here who may say differently, that they can reject the application because of anything they want.

The developer can appeal a rejection and the council would then have to explain why at an independent tribunal. The only way they could get away with rejecting it because they wanted to see what happens elsewhere in the area first would be if there was an already existing and approved legal masterplan for the area and if this development went against that masterplan. As the council is already on dodgy legal ground with this though because they rejected their own planning officers advice, I would suspect the developer would have a strong case to get it approved at appeal.

However, that isn't cheap and they'll probably just decide to go back to the plans and look at them again to see what they can change to make it more acceptable (reduce the height of the tallest building?, change the look of the buildings slightly to match with the other buildings better?).

Looking through the officers report though - I find 2 things particular stupid.

1) People complaining about the potential noise from a cafe/bar in the development. Erm, it used to be a pub? And it's in the middle of a traffic island on one of the main routes into the City Centre. You're really not going to here people talking in the cafe over the noise from the road.

2) That the Director of the Empire and Commonwealth Museum had the cheek to complain that they'd failed to be consulted about the application. Erm - they're LEAVING the city this year to move to London so I think they've lost their rights to have any say in what's going on in it now.

Update on St Catherine's Court from Property News:

“Excellent’ rating for new office Bristol developer Ashfield Land has just secured on of the highest attainable environmental ratings for its new office building in Clifton, St Catherine’s court. It is the first office building in Clifton and one of a very few within Bristol to achieve such high accreditation.
St Catherine’s Court is a £15m; 31,000 sq ft grade A office development on the Clifton Triangle and has been awarded a BREEAM “Excellent” rating. BREEAM rating are the leading and most established environmental assessment of buildings and are determined on a variety of criteria by independent assessors including management, energy use, health and well being of users, air and water pollution, transport, land use, materials and ecology."

UPDATE ON THE COLSTON HALL FOYER
Click on the link for video footage from inside
it's looking good guys.
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Sneak-preview-Colston-Hall-s-striking-new-foyer/article-691521-detail/article.html

This has been approved near to cabot circus at the back of Portland Square on Orange Street and replacing an old warehouse:

http://http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Drawing-345910.pdf?extension=.pdf&wmTransparency=0&id=345910&wmLocation=0&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&wmName=&pageCount=1

http://http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Drawing-446791.pdf?extension=.pdf&wmTransparency=0&id=446791&wmLocation=0&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&wmName=&pageCount=4

Trying to post images...how do you copy and paste here?

This has been approved near to cabot circus at the back of Portland Square on Orange Street and replacing an old warehouse:

http://http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Drawing-345910.pdf?extension=.pdf&wmTransparency=0&id=345910&wmLocation=0&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&wmName=&pageCount=1

http://http://e2edocs.bristol-city.gov.uk/WAM/doc/Drawing-446791.pdf?extension=.pdf&wmTransparency=0&id=446791&wmLocation=0&location=VOLUME1&contentType=application%2Fpdf&wmName=&pageCount=4

Do you mean the following? No. 7 Orange Street, Bristol:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-6552349.jpg

http://www.retail-week.com/News/2009/02/cooperative_group_to_close_somerfield_head_office_next_year.html

Co-operative Group to close Somerfield head office next year

The Co-operative Group plans to close Somerfield's head office in Bristol next year, putting hundreds of jobs at risk...

An update on the Zavvi stores in the City Centre.

The Cabot Circus store is now closing this week. The Broadmead Store (and Cribbs as well) is to continue trading as it's part of a sell off of the Zavvi assets to a new company who will keep them going as a going-concern. Actually, the 'new' company has been setup by the previous bosses at Zavvi - hopefully they've learned their lesson though and wont make the same mistakes again.

Strange though that they're keeping the older store at the (currently) 'unfashionable' end of Broadmead and closing the new store in Cabot Circus - maybe the rent at CC is much higher than in the Galleries

That was the graphic I was trying to paste - thank you. Interesting about Zavvi.

Here is an update on the expasion to the Spire Hospital, I dont have any graphics though:

Work has commenced on the £4.3m expansion of Spire Bristol Hospital, to significantly increase the number of patients that can be treated at the specialist cardiac, orthopaedic and neurosurgery facility.
Award winning construction company Stradform, (part of VINCI Construction UK Ltd), has been awarded contract, with work due for completion this summer.

Currently, the private hospital – which provides care to patients across the south of England and Wales – has four operating theatres and 16 consulting rooms. The new two-storey and five-storey extensions to the theatre block and consultant areas respectively, will increase the building’s footprint by 300 sq m. An additional operating theatre will be created, along with 13 bedrooms and a further five consulting rooms allowing for a new cardiology suite, with improved monitoring and assessment of patients.

An upper deck to the car park is being built to create additional parking spaces, including additional disabled spaces and cycle racks are also being provided to cope with the extra patients and visitors.

Development on the former Esso Petrol Station site on the Bath road in Totterdown is going to appeal, scheme includes a 11 storey tower.

Article in the EP:
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Totterdown-development-frame/article-710482-detail/article.html

I think Bristol has done relatively well out of the sad demise of Zavvi. If the purchase of the two remaining Bristol stores is confirmed by Head Entertainment, it is a testament to the resiliance and continued profitability of the Bristol stores. Before all this started Zavvi had about 120 stores nationwide, between HMV and Head Entertainment, about 23 have been saved. Amidst the bad news, its encouraging to see that the two bristol stores have been cherry picked whilst others have sadly closed. The loss of the galleries store would have put another serious dent in that end of Broadmead following the closure of Woolies, The Pier and the move by several other retailers to Cabot Circus.

I'm really please to see Broadmead and Cabot Circus doing alrght in difficult times and I'm really interesting to see the shuffling of stores and subsequent improvement of units going on in Broadmead. Good to see the Bristol Alliance continue to invest in existing stock in Broadmead, e.g. Natwest and Primark are moving from the Horsefair and its clear that the Bristol Alliance will the refurbish the southern side of the Horsefair, hopefully to match the North side, which is vast improvement. Even in these hard times there are still new units opening, specifically Size? (shoe shop) on the Horsefair and Animal in the old Barratt and truprint units on the Podium.

The news isn't surprising at all, there was barely any stock in the place last time I checked a few days ago with half the store completely empty.

It sounds perverse and maybe even ironic but I always thought that the Cabot Circus zavvi site would make a good site for a small initimate live music venue, it wouldn't happen in a billion trillion gazillion years but it's still nice to think about :shifty:

A live music venue would actually be a good thing for Broadmead. In fact a few other uses e.g. restaurants, bars would really help. Currently even with the cinema and all the restaurents on the top floor and the few around quakers friars is still a little quite and old broadmead is still deader than a dodo after 6pm!!!

Strange though that they're keeping the older store at the (currently) 'unfashionable' end of Broadmead and closing the new store in Cabot Circus - maybe the rent at CC is much higher than in the Galleries

Having friends working in financial circles, I can shed a bit of light onto this. The owners of The Galleries, in a bid to stop that end of the centre becoming a complete ghost town, have waived the rent and are actually paying Zaavi to remain - and will continue to do so for at least the next six months. This is why Bristol has kept three Zaavis (more than any other city outside of London) for so long, and why the remaining store will not be in CC.

Hi guys found a new website for the Temple Quay development.
click on link
http://www.templequaycentral.co.uk/

A live music venue would actually be a good thing for Broadmead. In fact a few other uses e.g. restaurants, bars would really help. Currently even with the cinema and all the restaurents on the top floor and the few around quakers friars is still a little quite and old broadmead is still deader than a dodo after 6pm!!!

Nice to see I'm not that crazy :D. I wonder if CC has a suggestion box? ;)


Having friends working in financial circles, I can shed a bit of light onto this. The owners of The Galleries, in a bid to stop that end of the centre becoming a complete ghost town, have waived the rent and are actually paying Zaavi to remain - and will continue to do so for at least the next six months. This is why Bristol has kept three Zaavis (more than any other city outside of London) for so long, and why the remaining store will not be in CC.

Well I'll be darned! a smart move on The Mall group's part.
It's still very early days yet but at the moment retail in the city centre seems to be managing to keep it's head above the water *touch wood*
It's just as well CC began development when it did nor see any lengthy delays while it was being constructed, other similar retail developments around the country in cities that were much better off than bristol retail wise have been delayed and the ones that made it just through but are struggling to find tenants (the one in Cardiff is apparently only 1/4 to 1/3 full which worrying)
I'm more concerned about the survival of smaller(ish) chains and independents though :fiddle:

When I was back home at Christmas I noticed that part of the Quaker's Friars redevelopment was still blocked off.
Any one know what the plans are for this?
Personally, I would have liked some kind of exhibition space or cultural centre there to add a bit of variety to the Mead . . .

Yeah, you can now walk round the back of Quakers Friars, through the building site. There is going to be one more L shape unit, with a glass conservatory looking building running east to west. I believe it was going to be a restaurant as there has been application notices for a booze license and on some of the CC literature a while back the name Crystal Rivers was labelled on a map showing who was taking each unit.

A quick google identifies that crystal Rivers are a new up market, coaktail bar and Indian/punjab restaurant group. Apparently they have opened in the mailbox in Birmingham.

Thanks for the info. It will be nice to see QF complete. Still, would have also liked some cultural use in the area such as photographic exhibitions of Bristol etc

Has this been put back? Construction start in 2011!!?? Will it open in time for 2013 as planned. Should tie in nicely with City's new ground. But still, 2013 for a bus route...

Bristol submits Ftr Streetcar rapid transit bus bid
Filed 19/02/09

Plans to build a rapid transit route between Bristol and Ashton Vale in North Somerset have been submitted to the government by the West of England Partnership.

The major scheme bid follows agreement by Bristol City Council on 2 February and North Somerset Council on Tuesday (17 February) to press ahead with the project, which is part of a £170m package of transport ehancements planned for the region.

The Temple Meads to Ashton Vale route - estimated to cost around £48m - is planned to link with the wider regional bus and road network from Nailsea, Portishead, Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare. It would be served by Ftr Streetcar articulated buses which are intended to reduce congestion by providing commuters and shoppers with a viable alternative to their cars.

10% of the funding needed for the scheme is to be found locally from a combination of planning agreements with local developers and existing regional transport funding through the Joint Local Transport Plan. The Department for Transport will need to pick up the remaining cost of the project for it to go ahead.

As well as the new rapid transit vehicles, bus operators meeting high quality standards will be able to run conventional buses along the corridor to provide feeder services to Weston-Super-Mare, Nailsea and Clevedon. By avoiding congestion, these services would benefit from more reliable and faster journeys.

The project also puts an emphasis on providing better parallel walking and cycling routes to create a high quality dedicated vehicle-free path linking Bristol city centre to the Long Ashton park and ride, building upon the Connect2 and Cycling City initiatives that continue to Nailsea.

If the Department for Transport gives the necessary approvals for the project, construction could start in 2011. A further £20m Weston package has also been supported by North Somerset Council with a bid for funding due to be submitted to government in March.

Cllr Mark Bradshaw, cabinet member for sustainable development at Bristol City Council, said: "Our plans for this first rapid transit route will complement the £70m investment in the key arterial bus corridors and the £23m available to our city as a result of being the first Cycling City. And it fits with our aspiration to attract Transport Innovation Fund money to the sub-region, with the support of our neighbouring councils, to make the really huge step change we need, offering a more reliable, convenient and affordable alternative to daily car use."

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council deputy leader and executive member for transport added: "The benefits to residents in North Somerset are very clear. The rapid transit will offer an alternative way to get into the centre of Bristol from the outskirts of the city in particular via the existing park and ride site at Ashton vale. We look forward to this link becoming reality as soon as possible."

^^This is crap! Get rid of the buses and build a tram system!!

For those who are interested - city's new stadium plans are up on the officail site - http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10327,00.html

Looks great!

For those who are interested - city's new stadium plans are up on the officail site - http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10327,00.html
Looks great!

Hrm, you really think so? I think it looks cheap and generic and they're missing a great opportunity for something more 'iconic' (edit: maybe it's just the bad quality of the renders though)

Generic? It what way? Ok the bottom tier is essentially a bowl similar to St Mary's, Walkers etc etc, but this is where the similarity ends. I think it's very unique, and a great deal better looking than alot of stadia belonging to clubs of suposedly greater standing than City...

Of course the renders could be portraying it in a slightly favourable light, but we could have fared far worse!

Architecture always divides the masses and we can never keep everyone happy but when the majority are happy you know they've got it right. The jury's out on this one (and will be until bums are on new red seats), but I believe the majority will like it.

Oh, and Tpm, when you say Iconic, what do you have in mind? You've got to bear in mind that these things don't come cheap.

Maybe I was a bit too harsh. It looked to me like you'd basically just have two 'blocks' on each side (with that weird cage-like thing in one corner - is that supposed to be a glass panel cube?) and one or two smaller ones at the ends, and the roof construction looked like it might be made of the same cheap stuff most of the current stadium is made of ("B&Q style"). Judging from some of the comments in the Evening Post this doesn't seem to be the case though and there's actually more to the design than I thought (and which isn't visible in the video and the pictures on the website). Guess I'll just have to wait and see. Oh and with 'iconic' I merely meant something that sticks out and is pleasant to look at, maybe even memorable.

Castlemead, The developer of the Burges Salmon building and the eye in Temple Quay, have gone into administration according to the Evening Post and all building work has stopped. As they seem well advanced and have a letting presumably another developer will take them on. If not then I suppose they will just be left as empty shells for now?

Bad news about Castlemead and another exmaple of the dramatic pressures on developers in these very tough times.

I thought the new stadium plans were ambitious and looked fantastic, they also left room to expand the two ends in time when City may become a premier league team..

A ray of good news about the dock expansion plans from Property Week:

Bristol's ship comes in as port objections sink
20.02.09
By Christine Eade

Harbour revision order for £600m terminal could be brought forward

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon could grant the Bristol Port Company a harbour revision order as early as this summer, thereby enabling it to begin work on a £600m deep water terminal.

The port’s chief executive, Simon Bird, announced last week that work could begin earlier than expected because bodies such as Natural England, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Highways Agency had withdrawn their objections.

These, and other conservation bodies that have a right to be consulted, put down ‘holding’ objections when the port published its plans in July. But, having read the report, all withdrew them, obviating the need for a public inquiry.

A similar inquiry four years ago into a new terminal at Dibden Bay, Southampton, resulted in the government ruling against the proposed development.

Bird explained: ‘A public inquiry is not going to take place because, during the consultation period, the objectors withdrew their objections.

‘Most people, when they saw the [revision order] document saw that it was very large, and put down holding objections, but when we sat down and talked them through it, there were no objections.’

He is now looking for overseas development and funding partners with experience in large terminals.

Once completed, the port on the Severn Estuary will be able to provide berths for ships that are 400 metres long and 40 metres wide, compared with the present vessel length of 240 metres.

The private port’s Royal Portbury Docks and Avonmouth Docks import 6 million tonnes of coal a year from Russia, South Africa, the US and Australia. The port is also a significant gateway for agricultural feed and Japanese cars.

However, the port has been hit hard by a drop in the number of Jaguar cars exported from the docks – a symptom of the global recession.

Developers cannot benefit from opportunities arising from land that belongs to the port.

Bird said: ‘We wouldn’t sell land for development. If we decided to develop we would do it ourselves.’

There is land zoned for industrial uses outside the port, which is less than a mile from the M5 and M49.

The plans do not conflict with proposals from the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s proposals to construct a barrage across the Severn Estuary to generate energy. Bird pointed out that the barrages will provide locks through which shipping will pass.

Here is a informative run down of the current office market for development and lettings in Bristol if anyone wants a read:

Bristol digs in
20.02.09
By Christine Eade

Underground car parks are the focus, as developers wait for the market to pick up

There is a deceptive amount of activity TAKING place on Bristol’s building sites, because it is mainly subterranean.

Underground car parks are being excavated for prelet offices. Car parks are also being built in anticipation of future development. It makes economic sense to top off a premature car park with a podium that can act as a base for future construction, while the developer waits for better times.

Crest Nicholson is building offices with subterranean car parks for financial services company Hargreaves Lansdowne, at Bristol’s Harbourside scheme. The developer is also creating parking accommodation for other, as yet unknown tenants.

The exception to developers constructing car parks for prelets is HDG Mansur’s scheme at Finzels Reach, on the corner of Counterslip and Temple Street. The car parks are being excavated now, but in April, work will start speculatively on the 110,524 sq ft Bridgewater House, within the mixed-use scheme.

Disbelieving Bristol office agents have accused HDG Mansur of gaining publicity by announcing other starting dates and then not meeting them. But Chris Read, HDG Mansur’s head of development for the UK and Europe, says the start date has slipped only once.

‘We have always said that Bridgewater House would be the speculative building of Finzels Reach, and we have worked hard to explain that fact,’ he says. ‘Bristol is a market that has never suffered from oversupply, and supply and demand have always been in balance.

It is only in the past three or four years that prelets haven’t been relied upon.’

Bridgewater, which is equity funded by Middle Eastern investors and debt funded by Deutsche Postbank, will be ready for occupation in May 2010, together with 399 flats.

Seventy have been bought by a South African investor, who promises not to resell them in the Bristol region. HDG Mansur has sold 18 itself and achieved a Bristol record of £400/sq ft.

Read expects Bridgewater to be leased on a floor-by-floor basis and, although not quoting rents, says: ‘Demand has slackened in Bristol, although not as much as many other markets. Headline rents have held up, while the inducements required are slightly more.’

No Bristol office agent will be quoted about the rent-free periods and other incentives being offered to tenants to maintain rents at £27/sq ft.

William Hill, UK & European Investments’ development director, says: ‘It depends on the amount of space that people take. It would be better if someone took two or three floors than one. And if they took a longer lease, say 15 or 20 years, it would be better.’

Last year, a rent-free month was conceded for every year on a lease. Agents hint that new lettings will be signed with a two-year rent-free period on a 12-year lease.

Lettings down

Figures from the Bristol Office Agents Society show that even with incentives, lettings for the last quarter of 2008 slumped to 106,000 sq ft, down from 265,600 sq ft in 2007. The total office take-up for the year was 608,000 sq ft.

Martin Booth, a partner at Knight Frank’s Bristol office, who compiles the statistics on behalf of the society, points out that this is only 70,000 sq ft below the 10-year average.

Booth takes comfort from the fact that the reletting of old offices remained constant: 466,000 sq ft last year, compared with 472,000 sq ft in 2007.

The biggest prelet secured last year was 70,000 sq ft to the Environment Agency. Westmark is now developing Cabot House for the agency, on the site of former council offices, near the cathedral.

But there are no such deals on the horizon this year. Ian Wills, office partner at King Sturge, says: ‘No one who hasn’t started on site will do so this year. And there isn’t a huge quantity in the pipeline because no one can borrow money.’

The last significant speculative development before Bridgewater House was UK & European Investments’ Templeback, by Finzels Reach. Last month, insurance company NFU Mutual took a 20,000 sq ft floor of the 124,626 sq ft building and will relocate from across the road at North Quay, when the building is finished in a few weeks’ time, paying £27/sq ft.

‘With this deal, the top headline rent has been maintained,’ says Chris Grazier, offices partner at Hartnell Taylor Cook, which is joint letting agent with King Sturge.

Chris Howell, associate at King Sturge, says: ‘NFU is moving from a four-storey building, so that it can bring its business together on a single floor.’

Hill says there is interest from prospective tenants in Templeback’s other floors. But this cannot hide the fact that Bristol’s letting figures look as puny as they do all over the UK.

Sheds call on air support
20.02.09
By Christine Eade

Aircraft parts manufacturers could save the region’s logistics market

The crisis in retailing has spread to the logistics market.

Retailers have always leased big sheds in the south-west from which to distribute merchandise within the region and south Wales. Now, administrators are instructing agents to find new tenants for sheds made redundant by the crisis.

The latest casualty is the 66,000 sq ft MFI warehouse at Western Approach. It is among a cluster of retail distribution depots on the M49, near the second Severn crossing.

MFI went into administration in November, but a previous owner, Galiform, still guarantees the £460,000 rent. Galiform has instructed Atisreal’s Bristol office to find a new tenant.

The shed is next door to the 250,000 sq ft Focus DIY warehouse, which is also on the market. The retailer is reorganising its distribution facilities and is not in administration.

Focus pays £1.45m a year for the 12-year-old shed – a rent equivalent to £5.80/sq ft.

Move eastward to Swindon and the administrators to Woolworths face the same challenge with a 610,000 sq ft distribution depot for the failed retailer on the A419 at Dorcan.

UBS Global Asset Management, Woolworths’ former landlord, has asked King Sturge to find a new tenant to take over the remaining seven years on the lease, under which the passing rent is £4/sq ft for a 12-year-old building.

The collection of retail casualties that has led to this unwelcome glut of secondhand industrial space should really depress the M4 and M5 market. Yet the sector had some unexpected good news last month when GKN Aerospace chose Gazeley’s two speculatively developed sheds at Western Approach for its Airbus wing component manufacturing facility.

Off the peg

As tipped by Property Week’s sheds supplement (26.09.08), GKN chose the two warehouses at G Park, of 211,600 sq ft and 120,720 sq ft, because its production schedule meant it was unable to wait for bespoke premises.

Rob Russell, director of DTZ’s Bristol office, which is acting for Gazeley, says: ‘GKN wanted 320,000 sq ft for the manufacture of wing components. They have a contract with Airbus that they have signed with the European Union. All that was necessary was to change the planning consent from B8 [distribution] to B2 [manufacturing], and that was done by [local authority] delegated powers.’

GKN will have to strip out floors and replace them with reinforced, totally static floors, which are needed to install machinery that demands total precision.

Jeremy Hughes, industrial director in Atisreal’s Bristol office, who had tried to interest GKN in the yet-to-be-developed ProLogis Park at Filton, says: ‘If we had been further down the line we might have had a chance of getting them, but they wanted to move very quickly.’

Hughes, however, welcomes the move. He says: ‘In the next 12 months, there will be a lot more aviation-oriented requirements coming into the market to supply Airbus.

‘We are fortunate in Bristol that the aircraft industry moves in such a way that it is different from the national economy.’

If an aviation cluster is created, aircraft component manufacturers could find a site at Portal West on the M49, near G Park.

Spen Hill, Tesco’s development arm, bought the 110 acre site for a cold store for Tesco, and has now asked Lambert Smith Hampton to sell a surplus 47 acres for 1m sq ft of industrial property in differing configurations either to let or for sale.

If units are required for the manufacturing of aircraft parts and not for distribution, Bristol’s famous aviation industry could be reborn.

Not Good News...

Urban Splash have their fingers in a lot of pies, and are generally one of my favourite redevelopers as they redevelop existing buildings rather than most other 'redevelopers' who just flatten the site and start again from scratch and I was really looking forward to what they could do with the Bridewell Island site.

Would hate to see them go.


Bristol flats delay affects 400
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-flats-delay-affects-400-depositors/article-736311-detail/article.html

Sunday, March 01, 2009, 21:08
More than 400 people who put a deposit on a new flat at the former Imperial Tobacco factory face waiting another year to move in.
Buyers who deposited tens of thousands of pounds with developer Urban Splash for flats at the Lake Shore project in Hartcliffe fear they may lose their money after the firm hit financial difficulties.
The recession has led the company to start a redundancy programme at its headquarters in Manchester.
Work has stalled at Lake Shore, which is costing £50 million to redevelop.
Promotional literature, which prompted long queues of buyers to wait overnight outside the marketing suite in Bristol city centre in late 2007, claimed a target opening date of mid-2009.
Flats were priced at up to £225,000 and the development was due to feature eco-friendly geothermal heating systems, landscaped gardens and even a new electric car club. But Urban Splash is now telling customers they will not be able to move in until 2010.
And one buyer told the Post he had been told he would have to wait until 2011 – more than three years since he put down a deposit.
Urban Splash is also redeveloping Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare and last December said it would be going ahead despite the credit crunch. The firm also owns the former police station at the Bridewell Island complex in the city centre, part of which is currently being used as an art gallery.
Jason McCrossan, 22, a Network Rail apprentice from Whitchurch, has put down £10,000 as a deposit for a £100,000 studio flat at Lake Shore.
The most recent payment, of £4,000, was paid to Urban Splash in January this year – just weeks before Mr McCrossan received a letter saying the date of completion had been set back.
He now faces at least another year living with his parents and is worried that, if he loses his money, it will be at least five years before he can afford to move out.
He said: "It's disgusting and appalling. I can't believe that it's going to take three years – if I had known then I wouldn't have put the money down in the first place.
"The problem is that it says in the contract that the work must be done by 2011, even though they were saying 2009 when they were marketing it.
"I'm worried that if the company goes under I'm going to lose the £10,000 altogether. That's a hell of a lot of money for me and it would set me back five years before I could move out of my parents' house.
"I was really excited about it – we had the viewings, saw the show flat and we actually went into the room which was going to be mine.
"Now there's a chance I might never even get to sleep in it."
Another buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, was due to pay Urban Splash a second deposit of £15,500 – 10 per cent of the value of the property – last October. He said that, despite Urban Splash saying work is progressing steadily on the site, the lack of any builders, cranes or building materials at Lake Shore had made him hold back his payment. He wants the firm to come clean about its current financial position, their plans for the Hartcliffe site and to return the original deposits.
He said: "At the time, my solicitor wrote to me and outlined the risks of paying such a large deposit prior to completion.
"But it didn't seem to be an issue and the developers were making themselves look very confident about having the work completed by this year.
"I want to receive my deposit monies back on the grounds of their failure to meet construction timetables and frank assessment by Urban Splash of their current trading position and, more importantly, their long-term plans for the site."
A spokesman for Urban Splash said: "In November last year, as part of our ongoing communication with customers, we announced that the completion date for Lake Shore had been moved to 2010. This was as a result of the difficulties presented by the economic climate.
"Lake Shore is an exciting project – one which we are incredibly proud of. We would like to invite any customers with queries to contact us directly."

I'm really hoping this has a happy ending, the Lakeshore development is certainly better looking (judging by what Urban splash have done in other cities) than the crap by the harbourside, the fact that it made people actually consider living in Hartcliffe is also another thing to be commended ;)

Also on http://maps.live.com/ they've updated Bristol on Birds eye, it's really really really recent too. Cabot circus is on there, as is the renovated Bristol and West building and new colston hall extension... and my dad's shed :shifty:

Hey guys click on the link for a video of Bristol taken in 1983.
It is amazing to see how much has changed since then.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_7804000/7804232.stm

Wow. Thanks for that. I was thrown from the first shot, with the road passing by college green. I struggled to get my bearings, and it seemed like a different city altogether.

Wow. Thanks for that. I was thrown from the first shot, with the road passing by college green. I struggled to get my bearings, and it seemed like a different city altogether.

same :lol:

Interesting to see the bare interior of the SS Great Britain to what it is now too.

Great projects!

Quiet here lately - no news at all? The EP had a story a while back about people complaining about some modern and 'out-of-place'-looking new buildings in the Pump House area of the harbour - anyone got any pics of those? (Haven't managed to spot them so far when driving by.)

In other news, it seems like Bristol is going to headquarter the yet-to-be-established new national Infrastructure Planning Commission, which is great, but also somewhat ironic seeing how Bristol must be one of the worst cities for infrastructure in the UK, among the bigger cities at least.

Colston Hall seems to be coming along nicely - I'm sure it'll look great once it's finished and in use. Now if someone took mercy on that whole Trenchard St Car Park structure...

Also noticed how the scaffolding has come off the new low-rise bits around the Radisson SAS hotel; don't think it's going to win any prizes, but it's not as half as bad as I feared it might be.

Today's EP has a story about the 'spiralling costs' of the new Museum of Bristol.

It's gone up by about £7m to £26m now although this includes £3m in outside consultation fees to get rid of the asbestos that the old Industrial Museum had and they didn't realise.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Anger-Bristol-museum-costs-spiral/article-774555-detail/article.html

^^Doesn't every project of this kind have spiralling costs at some point :| :D Just my opinionionionion but I don't see it as that bad considering the size of it and the fact that the museum is going to have free admission. Well I'd prefer to hear news of spiralling costs than to have it cancelled altogether... *knock/touch wood*

well anyway I can't wait for it to open and should give visitors a nice understanding about the city.



In other news, it seems like Bristol is going to headquarter the yet-to-be-established new national Infrastructure Planning Commission, which is great, but also somewhat ironic seeing how Bristol must be one of the worst cities for infrastructure in the UK, among the bigger cities at least.

If we do then perhaps it may rub off and we might get a decent transport system? ( Don't worry I wont hold my breath :hahano:)

Hi all

I decided to have a bit of a dig around on Bridewell island recently due to the news that Lakshore was delayed and the South West Managing Director has left. I'm not saying urban splash are in trouble, but given they are responsible for some of the more intereting redevelopments sites e.g. Birnbeck pier etc then though it might be nice to know what might be happening

Found a couple of articles that initially started alarm bells ringing, about Young Bristol being granted £5 million to create a new Myplace youth hub in the old Bridewell police station, given the proposal includes a climbing wall, outdoor balls court etc I sort of assume it used the whole block and given the level of funding I doubt its temporay, however its doesn't seem enough funding to involve major strutural changes.

Anyway these are the articles:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/City-centre-youth-project-wins-5m-lottery-cash/article-743136-detail/article.html

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/press-releases/2009/mar/bristol-welcomes-cash-for-young-people.en

If this is happening which I'm still un clear about (urban splash still has in on their website) then I'm sort of undecided about whether this is a good or a bad thing. Sounds like the Council and Police never sold the site! The development could have been really good, even if it wasn't rely tall because the buildngs are so interesting. This end of Broadmead really needs something good, but given the question mark over Urban Splashes finances this complex could have been left to rot for years in the current climate.

This Myplace Hub redevelopment could actually be quite interesting if it includes shared facilities and brings all the buildings back into publically accessible uses. £5 m just doesn't sound enough to get the whole think back into a good order!

What does everyone think?

On the Museum of bristol front, agree with Deleriums comments really, I'm gad it hasn't stalled, not really surprised its overspend and i'm not amazed that a free museum will actually require a subsidy to run, Shock Horror!

However the more you think about it the more alarming it is they thought that a 1950's industrial building would not have asbestos and that when they tendered the contract or this development they did not get a fixed contract for the work with a proper contractor who would project manage the process from start to finish.

All I can imagine is that the Council have blown there £3 m consultatns budget getting in expensive London based LAB Architects and now the contractors are screwing them for additional costs deal for all the unforeen forseeable problems!

News stories like this simply reinforce commonly held views that local authorities are inexperienced and get taken for a ride by the shark like development industry, much to the detriement of public finances. Local authority project always cost more and always take longer. The only solis is the fact that even in times of economic hardship they actually continue to get built. If you think about it, probably half of developments currently under construction are public sector, charity led or reliant on major public sector prelet e.g.

SS Great Britain/Great Western Dock Yard
Museum of Bristol
Colston Hall Foyer Project
Civic Justice Centre, Redcliffe Street
Cabot House (for the Environment Agency).

Ta for the info PJ all I can say is I hope something is done soon with the Bridwell island site.

£5 million doesn't seem a lot but the costs do go up with these sorts of things don't they? ;)

Bridewell Island shouldn't have to see any major (aesthetic!) structual changes to improve it as the building itself is real jem, arguably the nicest building/s in Broadmead so the less changes to the outside the better (and that includes the courtyard with the fire tower, the latter of which I really hope doesn't get demolished!) :yes:

What they should do is turn the courtyard into some sort of piazza like in Quakers Friars. That's the one major change I think really should be done.

The way the article put the youth hub makes it sound pretty neat though I have some reservations about it... I'm certainly not against such a thing it's just... for that site. What I mean is I love the fact it they've proposed such a diverse mixed scheme for what is a very bland area of the city and it's catering to an overlooked demographic that is largely overlooked in this part of town that is again overlooked. But that certain aspects, like exhibition space for example I'm thinking would be even better if it catered to more than just say teens and the like (which I guess I belong to still!). I hope that makes sense! it's early days mind so I guess we just have to wait for the water to clear a little before I can really say anything! Just sharing the first thing that came into my head :doh:

Though even if the proposals don't go all out like I'd hope it to it's much better than having such a site sit derelict!

...and at least it beats having some fuck off rapacious developer building some crappy tiny 0.5 bedroom flats!

Just bring on and complete the Museum of Bristol! that's something I'm really getting thrilled about.

I guess when I said structural changes, I meant internal ones and improved acccess in terms of pedestrian movements. I really support the idea for some sort of piazza space in the middle, it will just need access from at least three sides, currently there is the vehicle access on Silver Street, and a small gated ally on Bridewell street between Old Bridewell and the old court house. Probably just needs an access through the fire station at the north end. I also really hope they keep the fire tower, surely this will be the climbing wall?

I know what you mean about the youth hub, it does sound quite good, nut ,aybe not this site. However I think that if they added some space for culture stuff, e.g. exhibition space as you suggest, then it would be a really interesting edition to this end of Broadmead. Hopefully it could kick start something down Nelson street which is overlooked.

Other news in this area includes the old magistates court down the road is still for sale though lambert Smith Hampton, the RBS/Natwest court building on Nelson street and John Street next to the bank pub has been submitted to the Bristol LDF call for sites by and developer for redevelopment, as has the new bridwell site that used to contain Next and Bodyshop etc. Early days with theses but at least its encouraging to see people still taking an interest in theses key sites. I've still heard no news on the St Mary le Port town green enquiry.

A few half decent articles in the post today, including this one on Redland House up on the downs:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/New-landmark-offices-site-Bristol-Downs/article-780566-detail/article.html

Also an article about Ken Livingstones visit to Bristol. Says theres no point in a referendum on the congestion charge because people will say no. I guess if you want a yes result he's got a point! He also goes on to say the general public can't see beyond the end of their nose, so politicans should make the long term decisions. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this, maybe he thought he was in another city where politicans can see beyond the next election!

^^yeah, last time I checked our yokel politicians bar a few are pretty indistinguishable from the rest the general public going by what Livingstone has said!

I guess when I said structural changes, I meant internal ones and improved acccess in terms of pedestrian movements. I really support the idea for some sort of piazza space in the middle, it will just need access from at least three sides, currently there is the vehicle access on Silver Street, and a small gated ally on Bridewell street between Old Bridewell and the old court house. Probably just needs an access through the fire station at the north end. I also really hope they keep the fire tower, surely this will be the climbing wall?

I know what you mean about the youth hub, it does sound quite good, nut ,aybe not this site. However I think that if they added some space for culture stuff, e.g. exhibition space as you suggest, then it would be a really interesting edition to this end of Broadmead. Hopefully it could kick start something down Nelson street which is overlooked.



I figured as much but I just needed to get it out there :D


Other news in this area includes the old magistates court down the road is still for sale though lambert Smith Hampton, the RBS/Natwest court building on Nelson street and John Street next to the bank pub has been submitted to the Bristol LDF call for sites by and developer for redevelopment, as has the new bridwell site that used to contain Next and Bodyshop etc. Early days with theses but at least its encouraging to see people still taking an interest in theses key sites.

There's a lot of potential with that site although there are some preserved victorian facades the middle part is this awful plasticy looking thing that wouldnt be missed if you demolished it.
Perhaps they can pedestrianize Silver street and create a new street/square leading from the entrance of Bridwell island through to Union street? a pipe dream but still... at least I can dream :cry:

I've still heard no news on the St Mary le Port town green enquiry.

I kind of don't want to hear it in a way... I hope that application falls through or at least doesn't effect the mary le port site itself. Rebuild/reserve development for the rebuilding The Dutch house I say :horse:

Tthere's a new high-resolution version of the video fly-through of the proposed airport expansion available on the BISON homepage (http://www.biagrouponline.co.uk/).

The application for an 11 storey tower on former Esso petrol station on the Bath Road is currently being appealed following refusal. Further details can be found at http://www.tresa.org.uk/issues/essobathroad.html

More interestingly the pics!

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/836/pic3thumbc.jpg
For better larger versions of this and others go to the tresa sites and look down the left hand side.

There is no doubt that this site needs to be redeveloped, but not sure they will win permission. The reasons for refusal seem pretty strong for once.

Actually, that is very cunning the way they have altered the perspective on pic3. I wouldn't have noticed it otherwise.

It's rather ugly too. Similar to the harbourside shite :yes:

Anyone seen Temple Quay central site recently? One can't be too critical of it, and I'm glad that it's being developed, but........
That Bristol Eye building - the slender one with the apartments - every time I see it I'm thinking; must be taller, must be taller! I know that this project is fortunate to be still rising considering castlemore going into admin., butit just reaks of yet another missed opportunity. Considering the amount of growth and development in this quarter of the city of the past ten years, there is nothing there which is a real statement, nothing which attracts people, and makes them think 'I want to have a closer look over there'. I'm not saying there aren't any decent buildings there cos there are - I personally very much like the Osbourne clarke building. But in London, Canary Wharf projects itself over the city and says "big business over here", as does the City of London cluster. The problem TQ Central has, is that you wouldn't even know it was there without stumbling across it. Of course it helps if you arrive by train, but this building was the one that should have been the beacon to the rest of the city.

Oh well, broken record.... SCRATCH!!!

I believe the original design was taller, but English Heritage objected because it would be seen above Temple Meads from the station approach, so it was lowered to the point where it does not infringe upon the view.

Anyone seen Temple Quay central site recently? One can't be too critical of it, and I'm glad that it's being developed, but........
That Bristol Eye building - the slender one with the apartments - every time I see it I'm thinking; must be taller, must be taller! I know that this project is fortunate to be still rising considering castlemore going into admin., butit just reaks of yet another missed opportunity. Considering the amount of growth and development in this quarter of the city of the past ten years, there is nothing there which is a real statement, nothing which attracts people, and makes them think 'I want to have a closer look over there'. I'm not saying there aren't any decent buildings there cos there are - I personally very much like the Osbourne clarke building. But in London, Canary Wharf projects itself over the city and says "big business over here", as does the City of London cluster. The problem TQ Central has, is that you wouldn't even know it was there without stumbling across it. Of course it helps if you arrive by train, but this building was the one that should have been the beacon to the rest of the city.

Oh well, broken record.... SCRATCH!!!

I totally agree but our city seems to be spreading outwards rather than upwards and that because it is still able to do that and no matter how much the Nimbys try and stop building on greenbelt etc it wont work and eventually it will be constructed on. Only when this really stops will the city grow in height as it will be the only way it can go... Sadly I cant see that happening in the near or distant future. However, by spreading outwards we will end up with "Greater Bristol" in its true form, which will become and is becoming a vast metropolis.

P.S Isnt the EYE building 18 odd floors?

Also, have they cut the height to the building going up on St James Barton round-a-bout (next to Premier Inn)? Looks smaller to me...?

I believe the original design was taller, but English Heritage objected because it would be seen above Temple Meads from the station approach, so it was lowered to the point where it does not infringe upon the view.
Exactly - SCRAAATCH!! Again. Anyone would think that the whole city would spontaneously combust, or implode should anything be built with interferes which TM... Personally I like it that way - the old alongside the new - as it contrasts nicely and makes the old stuff look older.
P.S Isnt the EYE building 18 odd floors?

Also, have they cut the height to the building going up on St James Barton round-a-bout (next to Premier Inn)? Looks smaller to me...?

No I think it is 14 Gee. Or was it 13?
I thought the key worker site at ST. James Barton actually looked bigger than I would have imagined..

I went past Temple Quay Central this morning, working is still continuing and I do actually quite like it so far. The problem with The Eye is when I imagined its 13 storeys next to the 8 storey Burgess Salmon office buildings, I thought it would look substantially bigger and really form a spike at Valentines Bridge. Unfortunately residential stories are smaller that office ones in general, so the Eye its not actually much bigger , it certainly doesn't look more than 1/3 taller.

The St James Barton Key Worker is interesting, but they really need to sort out that shopping bit between it and the hotel next door, went past the other day, only one unit open, the rest dead, God knows what you can do with though?

I went past Temple Quay Central this morning, working is still continuing and I do actually quite like it so far. The problem with The Eye is when I imagined its 13 storeys next to the 8 storey Burgess Salmon office buildings, I thought it would look substantially bigger and really form a spike at Valentines Bridge. Unfortunately residential stories are smaller that office ones in general, so the Eye its not actually much bigger , it certainly doesn't look more than 1/3 taller.

This is exactkly it, PJ. It's a fairly attractive building due to it's slender shape (well IMO anyway), and wouldn't 'foul' the view around TM. It doesn't need to be much taller, just 15 or 16 stories would have done the job. It appears to be on tiptoes, trying to peer over the surrounding urbanity rather than standing proud, and giving the scene a focal point.

The University of Bristol has put in a planning application (http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KCC3BPDN08900) to redevelop the corner of Tyndall Avenue and St. Michael's Hill and put up two buildings to house its Maths and Bio-Science faculties.


Looks like this is going ahead. According to BBC News Bristol (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7992897.stm):

Council approves university plans

Plans for £80m worth of research and teaching blocks at the University of Bristol have been given the go-ahead.
Bristol City Council granted planning permission for the work, which will take place at the departments of biological sciences and mathematics.
The new development will be built on part of the old children's hospital site on the corner of St Michael's Hill and Tyndall Avenue.
Professor Eric Thomas said: "This is great news for the university."
He added: "It means we have permission to create the kind of facilities that will keep Bristol at the top of its game in key areas of science."

Severn tidal barrage rejected (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8001407.stm)
...
An inquiry into harnessing tidal power in the Severn Estuary has rejected plans for a multi-billion pound barrage between Weston-super-Mare and Cardiff.
...
The inquiry said it feared the large barrage would damage the estuary.
It recommended instead that a smaller barrage is built near the Second Severn Crossing.
...


Must say that I didn't expect them to outright reject the large barrage option - I'd have thought the possibility to generate 5% of the entire nation's electricity needs was just too tempting to let pass, esp. since it would've allowed the government to claim they're on the way to meet their rather ambitious goals to produce so-and-so many percent of electricity per year from renewable sources by whatever year it was.

(I admit I was mostly looking forward to the water in the Avon being nice and clear instead of brown and dirty, but hey, can't have it all)

That wasn't the 'official' Government inquiry though. It was just an inquiry by the Welsh government and local political people to decide which scheme they'd back if they had the choice.

The consultation period for the official government inquiry ends later this month (23rd April)

That wasn't the 'official' Government inquiry though. It was just an inquiry by the Welsh government and local political people

You're right, didn't notice that, just remembered the inquiry/report was due in April and assumed this was the one. I wonder though - what are the chances of London going against the decision of 'local stakeholders' with a huge and landscape-changing project like this?

Talking of reports due - whatever happened to the St. Mary le Port town green thing?

A small Good News story about Bristol in todays EP. Seems that the recession isn't hurting Broadmead that much. And, what's even better is that all these new stores are opening in 'Old Broadmead' and not in Cabot Circus. So, hopefully the whole area will be a success and not just the shiny new bit.

Incidentally, anyone know when Primark are moving into their new place down there?


New shops for Bristol city centre
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/New-shops-Bristol-city-centre/article-925801-detail/article.html
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 07:00

Three new shops have opened in Broadmead and two more firms open premises next month.

It follows news of five store openings in Cabot Circus in March.

Surfwear shop Animal has opened in Merchant Street and employs 20 people.

Manager Heidi Southern, 25, said: "Business is really good. We are just getting established now."

The West Cornwall Pasty Company, which has 60 outlets across the UK, has just opened another in The Arcade, near Starbucks, employing eight people.

Manager, Christophe Montmasson, 35, said: "The company really wants to expand .

"It is a difficult time to open a new shop but our pasties are very popular and we have had fantastic feedback from customers."

Trainers and clothing shop Size opened in The Horsefair on April 4.

Manager Hannah Owen, 25, said: "It's going really well. The first weekend was really busy and the Bank Holiday was amazing.

"We are meeting our targets so we're really happy."

Another new shop called Boulangerie is being fitted out in Union Street and is due to open soon.

NatWest Bank is opening another branch in the city on May 11.

It already has a branch in The Horsefair, one in Corn Street and more than a dozen in the greater Bristol area.

The new branch will have a level access entrance, four till positions, four interview rooms, two indoor cash machines, both of which will also allow people to pay in and pay bills as well, a quick deposit unit, and two external cash machines.

It will also have audio induction loops at all tills for customers who use hearing aids and lower level writing positions for those in wheelchairs.

The new branch will be open from 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday except Wednesdays when it will open at 10am, and from 10am to 3pm on a Saturday.

Manager James Chutter said: "My team and I are really excited about the new branch. At a time when others are preaching the virtues of branchless banking, our customers in Bristol, as elsewhere, are telling us that they value their local NatWest branch and we look forward to providing this additional convenient city centre banking facility that our customers have told us they want.

Fashion stores Joules and Gant have opened in Quakers Friars and in Cabot Circus new lettings include outdoor clothing retailer North Face and food outlets Bella Italia and Hey Potato!

The former Zavvi store in The Mall Bristol – formerly the Galleries – has re-opened as entertainment store Head, and the covered precinct has just seen a new baguette shop open. A further seven new store openings are set to be announced soon.

Primark are fitting out now. They plan to open in the first week of August 2009. The store wil have four trading floors.

Hi Guys - here is the answer to the town green enquiry between developers Deeley Freed, Brsitol City Council and the green army brigade. I understand wanting to maintain the green space at Castle Park and I think everyone is in agreement that the park will remain a green space for city dwellers but the green army must also appreciate the financial viability of a site is usually pretty marginal and so if the plans are drastically changed to preserve all the green space this could stop all development. I feel sorry for Deeley Freed here because they have spent so much money on this and the site is absolutly gagging to be developed.


Decision on 'town green' deferred

A decision on the future of park land in the centre of Bristol has been delayed.

Campaigners were hoping to get "town green" status for Castle Park to prevent it from being developed.

They argued it is one of the few green spaces in the city and used extensively by walkers, runners, cyclists and for people to relax.

A meeting of Bristol City Council decided to defer the matter until July as councillors needed more information.

Bristol City Council and developer Deeley Freed want to build on the site which campaigners said would encroach on open space and reduce the amount of green space in the city

Thanks for the update.

Does this mean that the inspector (or whoever) at the town green inquiry has recommended that Castle Park is granted town green status? The reason I suggest this is following a recommendation to approve town green status, Bristol City Council actually have to approve it as they are the consenting body. Normally this would be a rubber stamping exercise, but in this case the Council has a vested interest and in the interests of a pragmatic workable outcome then they will have to get the decision right.

If Councilors need more information, they are probably trying to decide how much of Castle Park should be given town green status and how much is really needed to facilitate Sty Mary Le Port? In the current climate, I can't imagine the sort of development they want on this site is viable without parts of the park. I think they should limit the site through a design appraisal as well as fiancial vability. What's the point of the numbers adding up if the site developed is a missed opportunity in terms of quality streetscene.

The site is important and my rough sketchs make me think that they only really need small finges of the park to get it to work in design terms. The site is not going to happen until the upturn, so hopefully the Council and Deeley Freed might take this opportunity to get this all sorted out and get planning permission so they are ready to go in 2010/2011

The inspector has recommended refusal of Town Green status.

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/committeecontent/?ref=wa&code=wa005&year=2009&month=04&day=27&hour=10&minute=00

Hopefully we will get a development that stitches back together the city's ancient core. Much as I would like to see a rebuilt Dutch House and St Peter's Hospital anything that knits itself back into the urban fabric would be very welcome.

Thanks Geoff

I have to say i'm pleased with the outcome. I'm reasonably confident that Council will restrict development on the park following the opposition, but allow a sufficently well designed scheme to enable the old city to be knitted back together.

Yeah I agree and this can been seen as a major step towards the new development getting the go ahead. It would indeed be great to recreate one of the most expensive retail destinations from the 1900s but we will have to wait and see what Deeley Freed come up with. Do we have any further ideas on what we will most likely see? I read the www.stmaryleport.com website and can see where they are going with it but have not heard anything recently...

Economic slowdown is really starting to bite, not much is going on compared to 12 months ago. Thought i'd give a bit of a update on some of the schemes that are still underconstruction.

Temple Back has pretty much finished, walked along the quayside the other day, which includes what looks like a new stop for the Ferry and moorings, part of the building is let but no one has moved in yet. Residential has some occupiers but the cafe/retail unit is empty. Thought it might be quite nice, but the outside space is always in the shade, so I think it ill really struggle as a cafe.

The Paragon on Counterslip is also nearly finished, the hoarding are going down, pavements and trees are in, Its alright, will try to get some photos up, just an average Bristol mid density office building.

The Civic Justice centre on Redcliffe street is coming on, it looks like it topped out and they are now attaching the stone cladding, rather than reddish, like in the pictures, it has a pink tinge, quite interesting, so check it out if your walking past.

Finzels reach is still just a massive building site, the bit that seems to be making the most progree is the Bridgewater House office building, they are doing the foundations and underground parking as we speak. Hopefully might start to see a few building rising out of the ground by the end of the year.

Temple Quay central is still progressing, well the Burgess Salmon and the Eye buildings anyway, It seems to be going well, they have the foundaton slab layed for the next building but It looks like its on hold. Hopefully His might be nearing completion by early next year and open up that whole quayside for when the market starts to pick up. Supposed to be a few retail units at the bottom of the buildings, South facing so might make a nice place to sit out.

Broadquay central on the centre is almost finished, some of the retail units are already occupied, Subway and Thai classic, the raddisson hotel must open soon, the pavements are open and they are just putting the finishing touches to the facades.

Colston Hall foyer is complete externally, just being fitted out internally, Looks good, only downside, is because the buiilding is set back from the road, you can see all the utility pipes etc on the side of the old colston hall, minor gripe I know, but it could do with a tidy up.

Museum of Bristol appears to be continuing at is ridiculously slow pace. Starting to give a good idea of what it might eventually look like, with the shed doors etc. Same for the Great Western Dockyard at the SS great britain, the building frame is in place and work is ongoing.

Harbouside has really slowed down, on the College Square office buildings appear to be continuing, primarily the one let to Hargreaves Lansdown. Cabot Houses at the back of the Council house has also been cleared and work is ongoing because of the pre let to the environment agency.

I'm sure there are other schemes, too, St Catherine Court on the Triangle looks almost finished, Bus Station Key worker is ongoing and a few sites are ready to go when things get better, Cabot Gate and Bank House. Saw that the old soap works was almost finished behing Gardener Haskins, best looking afforable housing scheme i've seen in ages.

Any other news?

Excellent update thanks PJ.

The only things to add are the Tulip Inn site near Broadmead and opposite the Bayhorse has now been almost completely demolished and work seems to be progressing on building out the hotel and office units. I passed a few weeks ago and the diggers were removing the rubble so fingers crossed work will continue.

The other site is the mainly Residential with some Commercial space at the bottom of Gloucester Road where the old garage used to be. I'm told a number of the residential units have been finally sold and the second phase of the refurbishment and the next door office building are being built. Work is definitely progressing even if it is also at a very slow pace but good to see signs of take up of the units. Also good signs that residential prices have risen in Bristol by 3.3 per cent of the last quarter which puts Bristol at 7 best preforming area in the UK along with places such as York and the Forest of Bracknell. If this trend continues developers will begin to gain confidence about starting on site or even start the development process by buying land and so on..

Yeah forgot about the Tulip Inn, I heard it was going to be a Premier Inn when complete, must of changed hands at some point last year. Also the Futures Inn next to Cabot Circus is supposed to open soon.

I can imagine that Bristol will see early signs of recovery too, A grade office rents are holding, even though discounts ar being offered. Activity is limited, primarily secondary offices but overall there is still an under supply of A grade space, so Cabot Gate, Bank Place and Temple Quay Central are all well placed for quick starts.

Hey guys we need a new photo update to see how things are coming along!

Anyone know whether the Redcliffe St, Three Queens Lane, St. Thomas St redevelopment (Kwik Fit etc.) was given planning permission yesterday?

If the renders are anything to go by then I hope not! :shifty:

Well it has been approved. I went on the ferry across the harbourside from the waterfront to the Pump room and the overwhleming view of the new flats at harbourside is of a cheap spanish hotel which is very disappointing after all that planning, time and money we end up with one of the most prominent sites in Bristol looking like that. The offices of hargreaves Lansdown look good as does HBOS, and fitness first bulidng is OK but the rest of it is completely shit and incredibly expensive for such small flats. The remaining historic walls will hopefully save future development from looking so cheap and nasty.

Bristol development plans get go ahead
Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 07:00

Comment on this story

Plans for new homes, offices, student accommodation and shops in the heart of Redcliffe have been given the go ahead.

A Bristol City Council planning committee was narrowly in favour of proposals to replace derelict warehouses bounded by Redcliff Street, Three Queens' Lane and St Thomas Street with buildings up to eight storeys high.

But the committee has given developer CEREP Redcliffe Sarl up to five years to start the work, rather than a standard three-year time limit, because of the economic downturn.

As part of the planning agreement, the developer will hand the council £3 million to build affordable family homes elsewhere in the city and has also pledged cash to help create a new footbridge linking Redcliffe and Welsh Back.

Councillors on the committee were split down the middle on the plans, which include four buildings made up of two office blocks with 16,000 sq ft of space, 164 one and two-bedroom flats, a 200-room hotel, student accommodation with 106 bedrooms, a medical centre and shops.
Click here for more

Some argued the development was too tall, bulky and out of keeping with the historic area, while others said it would make a vast improvement to an area which currently looked "appalling".

Community group Redcliffe Futures and English Heritage both criticised the plans for the two-acre site, which were passed when planning committee chairwoman Barbara Lewis used her casting vote to see them through.

The new development will replace old buildings formerly used as a timber storage yard, including premises previously occupied by Patterson's and Pilkington's, and will be built above a basement car park with 60 spaces, 70 cycle spaces and 10 motorbike spaces.

The developers, part of the Carlyle Group, hope the planned public square, new pedestrian routes, extra seating, street trees and shops will encourage more people into the area.

The development will make up 40 per cent of the Redcliffe Village, which was given outline planning permission for the village was given in 2002 and lasts until 2012.

Redcliffe Village, which was designed to be built in 11 phases, was expected to create more than 660 apartments, eight live-in studio workshops, offices, a creche, a health and fitness centre, shops and restaurants.

I went on the ferry across the harbourside from the waterfront to the Pump room and the overwhleming view of the new flats at harbourside is of a cheap spanish hotel which is very disappointing after all that planning, time and money we end up with one of the most prominent sites in Bristol looking like that. The offices of hargreaves Lansdown look good as does HBOS, and fitness first building is OK but the rest of it is completely shit and incredibly expensive for such small flats. The remaining historic walls will hopefully save future development from looking so cheap and nasty.

Yeah, it's all quite sad. I think what I find most disturbing beside the blandness of those buildings is the colour scheme. I was also wondering what the plan was for those historic walls, if there is one yet - anyone know?

Don't think that Redcliffe development is all too bad. Hard to tell what it's going to look like from the renders I found, but it's kind of hard not to improve that area - it's a complete dump right now, and the sooner those buildings are torn down the better. I like the idea of narrowing Three Queens Lane, even if that means one of my favourite shortcuts from Bedminster into the city will go away. Can't say I fancy that red brick corner building depicted in the EP though (looks awfully similar to that new building on the corner of Victoria Street and Counterslip as well).

In Today's EP they're saying that Tesco is now interested in buying the Ashton Gate site once City move to Ashton Vale to build a new supermarket there.

Whilst it seems good on paper though - it's estimated the club would get £5m selling the site to a developer for housing but Tesco is offering £20m for the site, I actually don't think this is worth it.

Tesco will never get planning permission waved through for this - there's too many other supermarkets in the other already so it'll go to a PI which will take time. I doubt Tesco will pay for the site before PP has been obtained which means there will be a £20m hole in the City budget. So, will be looking at a delay in work starting on the stadium until this is all sorted.

Also, this is likely to annoy the locals and get them organised into campaigning against the whole scheme.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Tesco-deal-finance-Bristol-City-s-new-stadium/article-1024881-detail/article.html

This reminds me of the Armando Ianucci sketch where Tesco took over the world :| *sigh*

(...) Tesco is offering £20m for the site, I actually don't think this is worth it.

Tesco will never get planning permission waved through for this - there's too many other supermarkets in the other already so it'll go to a PI which will take time. I doubt Tesco will pay for the site before PP has been obtained which means there will be a £20m hole in the City budget. So, will be looking at a delay in work starting on the stadium until this is all sorted.


Over at The Bristol Blogger there's been some talk (http://thebristolblogger.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/red-alert-planning-gain-games/#comment-17731) about this for a few weeks. Rumours have it that the whole thing is mostly a done deal already, which is heavily denied by some local politicians of course, but that's pretty much meaningless, since experience (as with eg. the Prince Street BRT plans) would suggest it's entirely possible that they're either clueless, being misled by their own officers, or lying.

Someone also suggested that there was some strategic $blah which has established the need for at least another big supermarket in South Bristol by 2015 or so. Given the massive expansion planned for that part of South Bristol, another supermarket does not seem out of order, although it seems odd to me to place it this side of the A370.

In my mind transforming that area into a massive parking-lot-cum-supermarket would be a shame and a wasted opportunity given how strategically well-placed the site is and how well-connected it will be once the BRT is up and running, but then it's not really much worse than what's there already. Pretty the current stadium is not, after all.


Also, this is likely to annoy the locals and get them organised into campaigning against the whole scheme.


Seems unlikely to me that they would manage to muster huge opposition, especially if the powers that be manage to establish a linkage to the new stadium and/or the BRT scheme. It's not like they're paving over a park to create that supermarket. Not really convinced a Tesco there would lead to the downfall of retailing in North Street either given the proximity of Sainsbury's.

I agree with all of that tpm.
There is a masterplan in place which the public are thre or four steps behind. You can't underestimate either, the gravity behind the bid to bring world cup football to the city, which Mr Lansdown has very shrewdly used to his advantage. He has also adopted a take it or leave it once in a lifetime stance to the council - saying he will not wait around while they 'drag their heels' - I would be very suprised indeed should the Tesco not be given the green light considering what depends on it.

Yeah I think there is too much on the table both policically and economically with the prospect of getting Bristol a World Cup venue. Tesco's or anyone who is willing to help deliver this goal will be too mouthwatering for the councilers at college green to resist and any moral or town planning masterplan will be made as fliexible as possible without actually breaking the law. It would be great for the city. I can see the suspension bridge on posters and adverts already in the minds of those involved.....and they are steps and steps ahead of what we know..We are feed what they want us to know

On another note UWE have:

"In a move designed to create a truly distinctive 21st century university, UWE Bristol has bought 70 acres of land and buildings adjacent to its main Frenchay campus from its neighbour Hewlett-Packard (HP). The purchase will enable the University to improve and extend its existing 80 acre campus."

Webiste below but now renders yet...they are inviting people to comment on their plans over the autumn.

www.uwenewcampus.com

Had a look at the key worker building at St. James' Barton today and was pleasantly suprised by it. Much better quality than I had envisaged, and fills the hole nicely (and also partially blocks the hospital chimney from view).
The only part I think they got wrong is they way it steps down towards the premier Inn or Travelodge or whatever it is. It should have stepped up towards it imo.

Hi
If anyone interested.
Reminder: New Campus Project exhibitions at Frenchay next week – June 5, 2009 (http://www.uwenewcampus.com/news/consultation/reminder-new-campus-project-exhibitions-at-frenchay-next-week/)

The latest ideas for the improvement and extension of UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus will be shown to staff, students, stakeholders and near neighbours at exhibitions being held next week.

A drop-in exhibition for all students and staff will be held in the Underpass near the main reception at Frenchay from Monday (8 June) until Thursday (11 June). An exhibition for stakeholders and near neighbours will be held at The Street Café, New Redland Building/S-Block, Frenchay Campus on Friday (12 June) from 14:00 – 17:00 and next Saturday (13 June) from 10:00 – 14:00.

Members of the masterplanning team will be on hand to answer questions from 12pm-2pm on Monday and Thursday.

Information used in the exhibition will be uploaded to this website soon, along with a new questionnaire.

Had a look at the key worker building at St. James' Barton today and was pleasantly suprised by it. Much better quality than I had envisaged, and fills the hole nicely (and also partially blocks the hospital chimney from view).
The only part I think they got wrong is they way it steps down towards the premier Inn or Travelodge or whatever it is. It should have stepped up towards it imo.

Yes. Here is the view of it from the BRI, the monster it covers up from the roundabout :lol:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Bristol_Mikey_1/111-02nd%20Jun/P1060510.jpg

Not too bad. Those big white walls are going to get dirty, mind :(

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818640213_511740213_7302822_841933_n.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818715213_511740213_7302823_7644785_n.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818770213_511740213_7302825_6376773_n.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818805213_511740213_7302826_3820309_n.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818830213_511740213_7302827_3148429_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818870213_511740213_7302828_5759374_n.jpg

Is that a wind up?!
No seriously, it looks amazing.

its on at the architecture centre, there's several architecture firms looking to regenerate redcliffe. its a brilliant exhibition

The bell mushroom things (:|) look shite.

Still it's nice to see such renders :yes:

Yes. Here is the view of it from the BRI, the monster it covers up from the roundabout :lol:

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Bristol_Mikey_1/111-02nd%20Jun/P1060510.jpg

I personally would have preferred some more windows on those white walls as they really do looks just too bright at the moment and having more windows would cover up the aging as they collect dirt and fumes.

not sure if these have been posted here before but its a new 85,000 sqft office development in "redcliffe village"
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro.jpg?t=1244868832
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro1.jpg?t=1244868937
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro2.jpg?t=1244868979
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro3.jpg?t=1244869005
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro4.jpg?t=1244869048
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg229/andy_shearwood/centro5.jpg?t=1244869072

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818640213_511740213_7302822_841933_n.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818715213_511740213_7302823_7644785_n.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818770213_511740213_7302825_6376773_n.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818805213_511740213_7302826_3820309_n.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs110.snc1/4929_201818830213_511740213_7302827_3148429_n.jpg
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs090.snc1/4929_201818870213_511740213_7302828_5759374_n.jpg

Is that a serious plan?

Is that a serious plan?

Very doubtful. I think it's just something some architects came up with to attract attention. Not only would it never get planning permission (proximity to St Mary Redcliffe etc.), but also I just don't see where the money for this kind of thing would come from, not to mention the fact that it affects quite a few existing buildings..

The exhibition is by students on the MArch course at Bath University, so while it is a fascinating exercise none of it is ever likely to get built.

Bristol Airport today submitted their planning app for expansion.

Not many changes from the previous details we know about - except the car park is slightly lower (it's below the roof height of the terminal building now) and there's a large bus station to be included on the roof of the car park now.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-Airport-submits-new-expansion-plans/article-1081294-detail/article.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8102742.stm

http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/upload/development_map1.jpg

1 Expansion of the Passenger Terminal - The existing terminal will be extended to the east and west, doubling the size of the building and delivering increased capacity at security and immigration, and improved passenger comfort levels.
2 Aircraft Parking - Additional space will be required to accommodate aircraft, so the existing apron (the area on which aircraft are parked) will be extended to the east and west.
3 Walkways - Two walkways (or piers) will serve the extended aprons, enabling passengers to walk between aircraft and the terminal building and reducing the use of buses to board and disembark flights.
4 Additional Car Parking - Alongside challenging targets for increased public transport use, some new car parking facilities will be required. Development will be concentrated on the north side of the airport.
5 Public Transport Interchange - Using the top level of the multi-storey car park, a new public transport interchange will provide convenient pick and drop off facilities for buses and coaches.
6 Fuel Storage - A new underground storage facility for aviation fuel will be located in the north west corner of the long stay car park.
7 Office Building - Located to the east of the existing control tower, office space will be used by airport and airline staff.

Had a few hours to myself today to ride my bike around the centre for the first time in ages, so thought i'd take a few shots as it's been a while since I posted any updates.


Temple quay central

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009543.jpg

With the eye

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009544.jpg

From the new bridge

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009548.jpg

From the ferry terminal

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009549.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009552.jpg

The shot tower development

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009554.jpg

Temple Back

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009556.jpg

Finzels

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009558.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009559.jpg

Here you can see the piling, the first pours of concrete so it should start to rise soon.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009560.jpg

The Paragon

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009561.jpg

Don't know what this is rising behind 1 Redcliffe street. Anyone?

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009562.jpg

Here it is again from Bristol Bridge House. It's fairly large, don't know how this went under my radar..

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009563.jpg

The museum referb.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009564.jpg

Key worker site at bus station

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009568.jpg

Construction apace near ssGB

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009565.jpg

At last but not least..... my complimentary sunny Bristol snap.

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/16062009566.jpg

The mystery development in Redcliffe in the Civil Justice Centre.

It's actually listed right back at the very start of the Bristol topic in the first post with all the other developments - but it's a long way down that list.

More details http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/hmcs_estates/schemes_construction/bristol_civil_justice_centre.htm

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/images/infoabout/hmcs_estates/bristol-civil-justice.gif

Thanks Schmeek :okay:

The CJC looks like a very solid design and quite a good use of a very small site, nice stone too. Makes you realise how shite the crest nicholson by the harbourside truly is.

Anyone have any more details into the museum? info seems pretty bare, which is a bit of a surprise considering it's not the smallest of buildings. It makes you wonder what's going to be inside.

Great photos, thanks :) I don't get to go back to Bristol much these days, so it's nice to see all the new stuff!

City stadium plans are out tomorrow

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Public-chance-view-Bristol-City-FC-s-new-stadium-plans/article-1084472-detail/article.html

Sounds like One Dove Lane might not be dead after all, according to an article about plans for a St.Pauls primary school in the Evening Post, which ends with the project manager saying "Comprehensive consultation with the local community will be undertaken later this year. This will focus on the wider regeneration of the area and will be carried out in partnership with Bristol City Council. It is important that local people have the opportunity to influence the emerging plans for Dove Lane so the best development scheme can be brought forward for this important site. It is our intention to submit a planning application later this year following these consultations." Does anyone know more about the status of that project? Is the high-rise option completely off the table now?

PS: great pictures Schmeek! I wish Finzel's Reach was coming along a bit faster though, feels like not much has happened there lately.

Tesco plans were released this weekend for Ashton Gate if they bought the site after City moves out.

Nothing amazing about the plans really - to get an idea of what it'll look like go and visit pretty much any Tesco already built in the country.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-s-Ashton-Gate-residents-glimpse-future-Tesco-site/article-1095069-detail/article.html

Just thought i'd say a big thankyou to any people who read/contribute to this thread who might also be responsible for creating Google Earth models for Bristol - Sam J, thommo, dizzyHARSH and too many others to mention: :cheers:

Also, I hope many more are in the pipeline, and I think priorities would be St. Mary Redcliffe, Temple Meads station, Castlemead/Cabots' circus area, and the Wills memorial.

Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

Hi all, i have been watching this link for a couple of years now, its a great way to stay in touch with developments in Bristol.
Regarding 3D maps of Bristol there is a superb photorealstic block model on the old microsoft maps.live.com now bing!
It covers just about the whole of central bristol prior to Cabot Circus being built.
You have to download Microsofts virtual 3D world driver but take a look its great...
http://www.walker-jones.com/gallery-traditional/images/launch/bristol.jpg

I mentioned this in the BCFC stadium thread in the Sports section, but in case anyone's interested, the planning app for the stadium is now starting to appear on the Bristol City Council website now.

http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KLC6B4DN08900

Not too many details up yet (no associated documents have been scanned yet) - although the 'target determination date' has been set as 1st Oct so at least we can see when they're aiming for this to be decided.

Still, probably good to keep an eye on this cos this is where everything will be available eventually.

I mentioned this in the BCFC stadium thread in the Sports section, but in case anyone's interested, the planning app for the stadium is now starting to appear on the Bristol City Council website now.

http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KLC6B4DN08900

Not too many details up yet (no associated documents have been scanned yet) - although the 'target determination date' has been set as 1st Oct so at least we can see when they're aiming for this to be decided.

Still, probably good to keep an eye on this cos this is where everything will be available eventually.


The associated documents are now available.

A new £2 million creative learning centre in Easton is set to win planning permission.

At a meeting tomorrow councilors will be urged to give consent for the centre on a wedge-shaped derelict piece of land next to a sliproad at Junction 3 on the M32. The centre would include a library and state-of-the-art facilities to provide learning programs for needy people.

It would also have facilities for youngsters, like a creche. People are in favour of a centre but are worried that 40 car parking spaces would not be enough. Members of the Greek Orthodox Church and Hellenic Centre nearby are against the plan because they believe it would cause traffic congestion.

They are also against the loss of open space and say that parking provision is inadequate. The plan, which is being put forward by the city council's libraries department, has been revised since a public meeting in August last year to discuss the issue.

Most of the scheme, which includes 59 flats, seven industrial units and community meeting rooms, is three storeys high. But the main block, which fronts Millpond Street, includes a tower which rises to seven storeys.

Planning officer Ben Burke is recommending to councillors that approval is given. He says in a report to the planning committee: "The proposal would regenerate a derelict site within an area of high deprivation, providing the area with much needed community facilities, family housing and affordable dwellings."

The complex is being funded with a £1.9 million grant from the National Lottery. It would be built near to Millpond Primary School, a youth centre and a health centre in nearby Claremont Street.

Heres the Planning app on the BCC Website:

http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?keyval=KIYHIPDN0DZ00&searchtype=PROPERTY&module=P3

And Some Pictures (Uploaded from the Associated Documents on the website)!!!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-509029.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-509020.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-509025.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w164/gee31/Drawing-509021.jpg

I think the opening post needs updating because it would be nice to know whats been completed so far.

Ok, text in the opening post has been updated and completed sites moved to the appropriate section.

Will see if I can add any new schemes and visionary sites before I go on holiday.

Ta
PJ

Thanks.

That Crazy golf course is opening up in Cabot's this weekend. It looks shite but in a good way (kind of like-)

I hope we hear some more (good) news about the St Mary le port area soon :cry:

I was in Bristol the other day and I must say I'm quite impressed with Cabot Circus. The riverside has also become really nice as well.

Hey guys click on the link .
Found this about a new store in Bristol.

http://www.retail-week.com/stores/store-of-the-week/store-of-the-week-size-bristol/5004750.article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/g...re/8171455.stm

fixed link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8171455.stm

"Plans are unveiled for the transformation of Gloucestershire County Cricket ground into a 20000 seat stadium."

That Crazy golf course is opening up in Cabot's this weekend. It looks shite but in a good way (kind of like-)

I hope we hear some more (good) news about the St Mary le port area soon :cry:

Yeah I actually had a quick round on the Saturday it opened and although it is relatively amusing I thought for £7 a round, which really lasts about 30 mins, it is too expensive and also a bit easy because it is mainly aimed at kids not adults.

Update on St Mary Le Port from the Evening Post website, thankfully it looks unlikely that town green status will be upheld

Town green status for Bristol park 'unlikely'

www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Town-green-status-Bristol-park-unlikely/article-1203777-detail/article.html

I walked past the Burges Salmon building earlier at Temple Quay. What they were they thinking when they chose plasticy biege and grey cladding. It looks so drab. In the renders it appeared a warmer shade of yellow, but in reality its a biege like colour. It also looks very tacky.

It will be good to have another riverside area/walkway though. Anyone know the latest of the walkway plans all the way from Temple Meads to Castle Park?

I walked past the Burges Salmon building earlier at Temple Quay. What they were they thinking when they chose plasticy biege and grey cladding. It looks so drab. In the renders it appeared a warmer shade of yellow, but in reality its a biege like colour. It also looks very tacky.

It will be good to have another riverside area/walkway though. Anyone know the latest of the walkway plans all the way from Temple Meads to Castle Park?

Thats the Burges Salmon Corporate colours.... salmon pink and beige....there's no accounting for taste!

I walked past the Burges Salmon building earlier at Temple Quay. What they were they thinking when they chose plasticy biege and grey cladding. It looks so drab. In the renders it appeared a warmer shade of yellow, but in reality its a biege like colour. It also looks very tacky.

It will be good to have another riverside area/walkway though. Anyone know the latest of the walkway plans all the way from Temple Meads to Castle Park?

The funding for the walkway along the harbour is linked to the S106 agreement for the Bank Place office development, the former Clerical Medical Building. Until this starts or maybe even finishes the pontoon will be delayed.

Does anyone know what's happening with the Wapping Wharf development by the way? Did it get delayed by the credit crunch as everything else? Was just wondering since the planning application had an August 2009 deadline for the developer to hand it detailed designs for the public spaces (square, streets, etc.) (IIRC).

Bristol homes developer goes into liquidation

he developer behind the delayed construction of 23 new flats in Bristol has gone into compulsory liquidation.

And Westland Construction Limited, which has halted work on the homes in Wells Road, Totterdown, after 16 months, is understood to be behind at least four other unfinished developments in the Bristol area.

Work is believed to have also stopped on its building sites in St George, Henbury, Longwell Green and Weston-super-Mare.

It is understood several creditors, including tradesmen, have not been paid by the company for their work and are chasing their money.

The company was wound up on July 22 and is now in the hands of the receiver, which will assess the firm's assets and try to pay creditors .

Don't think this effects any of the main projects.

tpm I don't know whats happening with Wapping Wharf but it shows that that could well have happened.

Thats the link for the rest of the article: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-homes-developer-goes-bust/article-1261575-detail/article.html

PJ, just looking through the first page, I noticed Bristol City's new ground is not on the list, although Rover's Memorial Ground is. Could you update it?

Also, was pondering the idea of a Tescos on the site of Ashton Gate, and wondered if there was any alternatives. Does anyone think it could be a site for a renewed attempt on the now long forgotten Arena?
City want/need £20m for AG to finance the new stadium, and Steve Lansdown seems to have had it all his own way so far with blackmail using the World Cup etc. Well, maybe it's the council's turn to twist the arm of the club and (after rejecting Tesco's planning application) offer, say, £15m themselves. Considering the council have already spent more than this amount on the Gas depot site it would appear slightly pointless I guess, but maybe the depot could be sold to Tesco's at a higher price. If you see what I'm getting at..? Can't think of another Supermarket in that area, but I suppose although central, there aren't great deal of residential nearby - mainly industrial with St. Phillips. Part of the deal would be that City part fund the rapid transit link which would service the stadium, and also conveniently, the new Arena.

A load of rubbish of course, but I've got nothing better to dream up today!

I think putting a supermarket-cum-carpark on the old depot site where the Arena was supposed to be built would be a crime against city planning - I can't believe you're even considering this, Schmeek :eek: IMHO that site needs something high-density with public spaces and a couple of new bridges that link the station and the mail depot and the site to the right of the station concourse (which is to be redeveloped as well if I'm not mistaken). Would be a shame to give away such an opportunity.

What I don't understand about the Tesco thing is: why does it have to be the usual supermarket warehouse with giant car park next to it? Why can't the car park be underground underneath the supermarket, for example, freeing lots of space for other things, whether green spaces, cycle paths, housing or whatever else? Why can supermarkets not be mixed with e.g. residential housing (ie. supermarket on the ground floor, offices or flats on the upper floors). This doesn't seem to be a problem in any other major city I know, but just doesn't seem to be on the cards in the UK. In short: why does it have to be such a low density single-use project?

How about we just reserve and wait until someone competent comes along and develops the land the arena was supposed to be on and... develop it into an arena?

Could be a long wait mind :doh:

Does anyone think it could be a site for a renewed attempt on the now long forgotten Arena?

Well if there is nowhere in central Bristol that is available then the ashton gate area would be the prime choice, nowhere else out in the 'burbs is good enough methinks.

I think putting a supermarket-cum-carpark on the old depot site where the Arena was supposed to be built would be a crime against city planning - I can't believe you're even considering this, Schmeek :eek: IMHO that site needs something high-density with public spaces and a couple of new bridges that link the station and the mail depot and the site to the right of the station concourse (which is to be redeveloped as well if I'm not mistaken). Would be a shame to give away such an opportunity.

What I don't understand about the Tesco thing is: why does it have to be the usual supermarket warehouse with giant car park next to it? Why can't the car park be underground underneath the supermarket, for example, freeing lots of space for other things, whether green spaces, cycle paths, housing or whatever else? Why can supermarkets not be mixed with e.g. residential housing (ie. supermarket on the ground floor, offices or flats on the upper floors). This doesn't seem to be a problem in any other major city I know, but just doesn't seem to be on the cards in the UK. In short: why does it have to be such a low density single-use project?

Ha - thought that might have been a good way to check people still read this thread! It was once a hive of activity but now could be mistaken for a thread on outer Mongolia! Of course, I'm partly responsible for this myself... :ohno:

Totally agree Tpm. It would be a nightmare site for a supermarket and a massive opportunity down the drain. I definately don't want this and personally think the likelihood extremely small. All I meant was I wouldn't put it past the council to dream up and do such a thing if there was something in it for them.:bash:

Ha - thought that might have been a good way to check people still read this thread! It was once a hive of activity but now could be mistaken for a thread on outer Mongolia! Of course, I'm partly responsible for this myself... :ohno:

Totally agree Tpm. It would be a nightmare site for a supermarket and a massive opportunity down the drain. I definately don't want this and personally think the likelihood extremely small. All I meant was I wouldn't put it past the council to dream up and do such a thing if there was something in it for them.:bash:

The old arena site belongs to the RDA rather than the council and they have a planning application in to build a bridge to connect it to the road network. I quite agree something high density and urban would be great. The RDA will be out to get their money back though.

Looks like the plans for the supermarket on the Ashton Gate site are up (http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Planning/major-developments/new-supermarket-at-ashton-gate-stadium.en) now. They must be very confident of their case, because the plans are really quite, err, underwhelming, even for a supermarket...

I think putting a supermarket-cum-carpark on the old depot site where the Arena was supposed to be built would be a crime against city planning - I can't believe you're even considering this, Schmeek :eek: IMHO that site needs something high-density with public spaces and a couple of new bridges that link the station and the mail depot and the site to the right of the station concourse (which is to be redeveloped as well if I'm not mistaken). Would be a shame to give away such an opportunity.

What I don't understand about the Tesco thing is: why does it have to be the usual supermarket warehouse with giant car park next to it? Why can't the car park be underground underneath the supermarket, for example, freeing lots of space for other things, whether green spaces, cycle paths, housing or whatever else? Why can supermarkets not be mixed with e.g. residential housing (ie. supermarket on the ground floor, offices or flats on the upper floors). This doesn't seem to be a problem in any other major city I know, but just doesn't seem to be on the cards in the UK. In short: why does it have to be such a low density single-use project?

I would say the main factor is cost. To create a subterranean car park is a very expensive process compared to a normal car park which is unfortunate especially on the scale needed to satisfy the kind of visitors a city centre ish supermarket will receive. You need to build huge air vents for the pollution from the cars and other factors such as the kind of rock / soil that cannot support underground excavation. But saying all that it still would be a much better alternative for everyone if more parking was underground it frees up space and will create a higher density project.

Ikea at Eastgate have come up with something in between which works reasonably well though which should be looked at perhaps.

Bristol eyesore buildings to be knocked down


Eyesore office blocks that look out over Queen Square and King Street in Bristol city centre are to be demolished. The concrete pebble-dash and red-brick buildings were attached to the Georgian Queen Anne House in the 1970s and 1980s after the Georgian Grade II-listed building was converted into offices in the 1960s.

Now the modern additions, described as "dire and dingy" by one councillor, are to be knocked down to make way for a new development said to be more sympathetic. Previous proposals for redevelopment of the site were withdrawn last year after concerns about whether the designs would fit in with the historic surroundings and there were some objections to the revised plans, saying the new buildings would "violently clash" with their surroundings.

But last night Bristol City Council's development control committee approved the new plans, paving the way for the new buildings.

There will now be five and six-storey office blocks built adjacent to Thunderbolt Square and on King Street, which will appear as several buildings rather than one. Natural stone wall and slate frontages and zinc cladding will reflect the type of architecture in the surrounding buildings, and improvements will also be made inside Queen Anne House.

The office space will be increased by 1,000sqm, and there will be a basement car park for 27 vehicles and 45 bikes, with access from King William Avenue.
Michael Orr, director of CSJ Planning Consultants, acting on behalf of the owners Kenwright Developments, said the high-quality scheme would bring much-needed life back to the area.

Mr Orr said: "The site is probably in the most sensitive location in Bristol, but that is not an excuse to do nothing. We have a very unsightly building here at the moment, and it is ghastly and detracts from the conservation area.
"The effect of this unsightly complex of buildings should not be underestimated. Despite being in one of the most commercially desirable areas of the city, the premises have remained largely vacant for much of the past decade."

Objectors said that the new designs would jar with the surrounding buildings, "violently clashing with them in scale, shape and style", and that it was "an incoherent jumble of discordant elements".

But councillors backed the plans.

Colin Smith (Labour, Bedminster) said: "I support this. The new building is a fresh approach to this corner. The existing buildings are dire and dingy and are in need of replacement."
Tim Kent (Lib Dem, Whitchurch Park) said: "This scheme is a massive improvement on what is there before. What has been put forward is a very good design and will greatly enhance the area."

I'm assuming this is the site they're on about?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.45154,-2.595292&spn=0.000394,0.00169&t=k&z=20

I'm assuming this is the site they're on about

Looks like it. This document (http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2009/wa/wa001/0826_6-3.pdf) has a few grainy pictures at the end.

Looks like it. This document (http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2009/wa/wa001/0826_6-3.pdf) has a few grainy pictures at the end.

Yeah - if the cladding is finished nicely this could be a qulaity addition to thunderbolt square and King Street.

Bristol 'cycle homes' consultation to start again

Bristol City Council is carrying out another consultation on the £40 million redevelopment plan for the former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory in Greenbank.

This is despite the fact the plans were actually approved by the council six months ago, and a £12,000 consultation has already been carried out.

Squarepeg's plans are to build 252 flats and houses on the site, but the sticking point has been access to a strip of land along the Bristol-to-Bath cycle path.

The developer has repeatedly said it needs the land to allow the construction of up to 22 so-called cycle houses along the path.

The cycle houses, the brainchild of architect George Ferguson, are believed to be unique in this country and some would have direct access to the cycle path.

The previous consultation exercise showed that the majority of people who responded opposed losing the land on the grounds it would harm the environment.

The council disregarded this when it granted planning permission in March, allowing the sale of the land subject to planning permission, and a decision was due on the land sale by the end of April so the developer could begin work...

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-cycle-homes-consultation-start/article-1296655-detail/article.html

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00379/LADDER8TH_385x185_P_379938a.jpg

This is the developments website:

http://www.greenbankchocolatefactory.co.uk/

Looks good, I don't know why the don't just let them build it, especially with jobs in short supply. :bash:

What campaigners against this don't seem to see is that the cycle track is actually a bit of a hotspot for crime - there seems to be a story in the EP every other week or so about an attack along the path.

To discourage this, it's good to have well lit and populated sections on it. So, a row of houses actually overlooking the path would be a benefit to everyone. It's not as if they said they want to close the path down and build houses on it - the path is still there but the houses are going to run along one side of it.

Anyone else been in the new Primark?

Now I don't care for the chain I prefer TK-maxx but they've certainly done a good refurb (much better than I was expecting at least) the building was looking pretty tired and worn the last time I was in there when it was HoF.

Nah - I've not been yet. I was in the Centre on Tuesday and walked straight past it and completely forgot that it was Primark now.

All I've heard about it are the complaints because there's no toilets in there apparently. Although I've been to Primarks all over the country, and over to Penneys in Ireland (which was the original Primark before they came over to the UK) and none of them have toilets either so I'm not sure why people are upset over it now.

Also, in the EP today they've got another story about the new Hotel in the old Bristol and West building is delaying it's opening again by another month or so. The new opening date is now Oct 5th. Apparently there's been a problem with the company running it not paying their staff wages for the last 2 months as well - so that's really not getting a good start!

Nah - I've not been yet. I was in the Centre on Tuesday and walked straight past it and completely forgot that it was Primark now.

All I've heard about it are the complaints because there's no toilets in there apparently. Although I've been to Primarks all over the country, and over to Penneys in Ireland (which was the original Primark before they came over to the UK) and none of them have toilets either so I'm not sure why people are upset over it now.

I've seen the changing rooms in some of the other Primarks and they sure look like toilets to me ;)


Also, in the EP today they've got another story about the new Hotel in the old Bristol and West building is delaying it's opening again by another month or so. The new opening date is now Oct 5th. Apparently there's been a problem with the company running it not paying their staff wages for the last 2 months as well - so that's really not getting a good start!

Well if Radisson were to pull out/folds I suppose now is a good a time if any given it's largely complete :shifty:. Though I don't like the refurb I like the seperate ground floor commerical units.

Apparently it's not Radisson that's the problem. The actual hotel is owned by another company called 'Rex' and they also pay all the staff. They then have a deal with Radisson who provide all the training for running a hotel.

If it was just Radisson behind it all, I wouldn't be worried because they're a fairly big and stable company now. But it could be a sign that this other company that actually owns the place is struggling and so they might go under before it's even opened.

Wow, nothings happened here in ages! Anyway:

Bristol waterfront 'is a mess' claim

The lead singer of Bristol band Massive Attack has launched a stinging attack on his home city's architecture, claiming it looks like "Eastern Europe in the 1960s".

Robert Del Naja, also known as 3D, made his latest outspoken comments about Bristol in an interview in a national newspaper.

He had described the city's waterfront buildings as being "eastern European".

He told The Guardian: "I was up on Brandon Hill yesterday, looking over the waterfront, and it's a ****ing mess.

"It looks like eastern Europe in the 60s. There's not a single building on the Bristol skyline that's been put there in the last 50 years that is of note which is legacy-building."...

is isn't the first time Del Naja has been vocal in his criticism of Bristol.

When the £500 million shopping centre Cabot Circus opened last year he branded it "absolute vandalism", and said it "captured that gripping 80s shopping mall look of mid-America slash the Midlands".

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-waterfront-mess-claim/article-1334775-detail/article.html

Opinions? Personally, I think a few more distinctive buildings, with more varied heights, could have been better. But it's not that bad.

Also:

Avon £4.5m flood scheme finished

A £4.5m scheme to reduce the flood risk to the city of Bristol has been completed.

Staff from Wessex Water have taken more than three years to build a reinforced concrete overflow structure.It is designed to release screened waste water into the river during times of heavy rainfall.

Constructing this next to the A4 Portway was a challenge for engineers who had to contend with the world's second highest tidal range.

The scheme involved the construction of a water-tight pumping station on the river's edge that will house equipment to screen and pump water into the river during any tidal condition.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8254810.stm

Anyone seen this picture before?

http://lh3.ggpht.com/__EnL4vlydrw/Sq6gpnuqEgI/AAAAAAAACAQ/jXNNyXX-gps/s720/Snapshot%202009-09-14%2020-57-57.jpg

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Planning/planning-policy-documents/bristol-development-framework/spd/spd01/SPD-01-tall-buildings.en;jsessionid=2F15A8B6C0C5DFB4E01BAEC79E7D6061.tcwwwaplaws1

Opinions? Personally, I think a few more distinctive buildings, with more varied heights, could have been better. But it's not that bad.


Well, I think most of it is quite okay - especially between Pero's bridge and the square. I still can't believe they signed off on these horrible pastel colours for the residential buildings facing the water, but other than that it's not entirely bad - and from further away the silhouettes of the residential blocks actually do look like the top of a big ship. I also quite like the new inlet and the walk around there. Compared to what the area was like before and what exists elsewhere around the floating harbour (residential blocks west of Spike Island around Cumberland Close, residential buildings in Hotwells between the Pump House and Pooles Wharf, residential buildings around Bathurst Parade and opposite the Mud Dock) it's really pretty good. Also, I doubt there is or was any chance at all of something tall in that area (the area is marked as 'conservation area' in the tall buildings strategic planning document).

In general, the massive attack chap is right of course: Bristol does have a bit of a soviet-esque cityscape. The post-war years have not been kind to Bristol in terms of architecture, and the hills certainly don't help. I'd say the same about most other major British cities as well though, including London. At the end of the day it's more about micro-architecture and urban design though, and not how the city looks from afar. And on that count Bristol is certainly making progress, at least IMHO.

So, tonight finally the Colston Hall Foyer building opens.

Highlights of the 10 day opening event are:


Highlights of Colston Hall's opening party 10 days
Friday, September 18, 2009, 07:00
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Highlights-Colston-Hall-s-opening-party-10-days/article-1350953-detail/article.html

THE opening of the new wing of the Colston Hall is to be celebrated with 10 exciting days of performances, ranging from the music of Bristol's own Beth Rowley to a wildlife talk from Sir David Attenborough.

Beth Rowley performs alongside Phantom Limb, pictured, on Thursday, September 24. Tickets £20. Sir David takes to the stage with Nature's Great Events on Tuesday, September 22. Tickets from £20 to £30.

Other highlights include a performance on Friday, September 25, by Roni Size. Tickets £18.

Portishead's Geoff Barrow brings his Invada Invasion to all three performance spaces in the venue on Saturday, September 26, in a range of shows, headlined by Mogwai. Tickets £20.

The Aquarium is gonna be open quite soon (October-November) That should be interesting (though I may not be able to see it!). Aquariums tend to be tardis like in size so hopefully this one won't be an exception.

Has anyone seen the planning documents for the south west Bristol (Long Ashton) urban expansion?

http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIWAM/showCaseFile.do?action=show&appType=planning&appNumber=09/P/1455/OT2

http://wam.n-somerset.gov.uk/MULTIWAM/doc/Plan-1774279.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=1774279&location=Volume2&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1

There's plenty there to get your teeth into, and I have to say it's a bigger development than I had anticapated.

One thing that struck me was the new ring road link segment. As I compared it to the present map, I realised that the road is practically here already - I just hadn't looked properly for clues.

The road will cut across Bishopsworth through land already left undeveloped for the most part before cutting across Highridge Green to the A38. It'll be King Georges Rd that will be the big loser in all this and 30 odd houses will need to be swept aside, along with a farm on the green.

Here's an aerial:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/230920091261.jpg

And one I've modified:

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa272/Berbaking/ringrd.jpg

You can see what appears to be an outline of a road already in the grass! Does anyone know how this has happened? Was there a road there before which was covered over?

Also if you look elsewhere around South Bristol you'll see more markings on the edge of city too. Very curious! using Google's historical imagery it doesn't appear that were any roads beforehand (not in the last 10 years at least).

I know you should never really trust a development just from some vague plans but it's already looking like a far better development than Bradley stoke ever was (or is). Also Long Ashton may be incorporated into Bristol's Urban area (which it isn't currently) Bringing the city's population very close to or over 600K

(a smaller image from the link given for those to lazy to click it!)
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy4/Stupidho1234567/ashtonpark.jpg

http://www.ashton-park.co.uk

The mysterious line looks like an old disused railway line although I can't find any specific details of railway lines running through there in the past.

If you've got Google Earth, try importing this file to see if it's on there http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=982936&site_id=1#import

(unfortunately - Google earth kills my computer, so I can't do it myself).

Thanks for the link Dronk - no disused lines show at that spot.
On closer inspection, it appears the 'road' is a number of in-line cattle pens which mark out an enclosed route across the fields. It could be that the farmer needs access to one of his fields by crossing a load of fields owned by another farmer...?

Thanks for the link Dronk - no disused lines show at that spot.
On closer inspection, it appears the 'road' is a number of in-line cattle pens which mark out an enclosed route across the fields. It could be that the farmer needs access to one of his fields by crossing a load of fields owned by another farmer...?

Hi guys, never posted before but a long time user of this site. The areas of undeveloped land were purposly left for a road to be built. If you look closely, The houses on King Georges Road have 3-4 metres of extra grass and drive way in front of the property. This is so the existing road can be widened in the future. They've planned all this for a long time! As for the markings on the field, the image on google earth is out of date. Water mains have been placed here ready for the houses which will surround the new road.

Ah, yes - you are right Jimmy. Cheers for the info. Hadn't zoomed that far down. Clearly plenty of room down King George Rd. They might even have the road curve around the farm as well...

New Bristol City stadium could lead to new arena

Bristol could get its long-awaited arena if Bristol City's new football stadium at Ashton Vale gets the go-ahead.The club hopes to win planning consent from city councillors in November for its new £65 million home.

Now it has emerged that, if the new stadium goes ahead, then some neighbouring land could be used to build an arena that could rival similar venues in Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham.

An international company that specialises in promoting large-scale events and building arenas has told the (Bristol) Evening Post it would be "very keen" to build one in Bristol if a site became available. The company, the Creative Entertainment Group, which brought Elton John to City's existing ground at Ashton Gate, said if it built an arena in Bristol, it would be "world class".

Chief executive Peter Brightman said: "Bristol is one of the cities in the country which desperately needs an arena. We operate in 35 countries worldwide and of all the places that needs an arena, more than anywhere else, I would say it's Bristol."

Mr Brightman said an arena in Bristol would ideally have 15,000 seats but the number was not the most important issue. The key to success would be flexibility so the venue could adapt to different types of events very quickly.

Mr Brightman said: "You could not expect to have world class artists 52 weeks a year – it's not going to happen. So flexibility is the key.

"A multi-purpose arena opened in Dubai four or five months ago where three-and-a-half thousand seats move out of the way in three minutes at the push of a button.

"I'm not saying it would be the same arrangement in Bristol, but certainly you would need to be able to move the seating very quickly so that you could have a quick turnaround time for staging different types of events."

One of the group's subsidiaries, Creative Venues, is now looking at building arenas in 23 countries.

Mr Brightman said Britain was on their list – and Bristol was "far and away" their favourite city for a purpose-built arena.

City council deputy leader Simon Cook said: "An arena is very much on our wish list of things we want to see happen in the city.

"We recognise that it is something the city badly needs and we will be doing everything we can to make it happen."

● There have been previous plans to build an arena in Bristol but they have always fallen by the wayside.

The last plan, driven by the South West Regional Development Agency, was based on a 14-acre site next to Temple Meads railway station for £10.8million in 2003 – but the plan failed through lack of funding.

Before that there were moves to use the former Royal Mail sorting office site in Cattle Market Road, but it was snapped up by a private developer and now creates a blot on the skyline in St Philip's.

:)

Steve Lansdowns also said that if their isn't a tesco at Ashton Gate, then there won't be a stadium.

New Bristol City stadium could lead to new arena

Would be nice if this were actually true and not just a publicity stunt (by the EP) to drum up support for the stadium (and the tesco). Alas, I don't quite believe it. "[The company] would be keen ... if a site became available." - that does not sound like they've even been looking. I bet they'd even get the original site next to Temple Meads for a penny if they were to develop an arena on it.

Btw, I noticed earlier today that there's quite a bit of construction going on on Clarence Rd between the Bedminster roundabout and the Temple Gate roundabout. Does anyone know what they're building there?

Btw, I noticed earlier today that there's quite a bit of construction going on on Clarence Rd between the Bedminster roundabout and the Temple Gate roundabout. Does anyone know what they're building there?[/QUOTE]

I think its part of St Mary Redcliff & Temple school. Not sure what though!

Not exactly the biggest commercial development going on in Bristol but it is good to hear previous projects which have been mothballed are now beginning to move forward. Flexibility with the funding is the key hear and with many other projects across the city. Banks wont let developement happen or sign off the funding without a pre let inplace becuase they see it is just too risky in the current climate. Let's hope confidence grows and more larger developments start on site.

Work to start on new Bristol health centre
Thursday, October 08, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

Work is due to start on the redevelopment of the former Bristol North swimming pool in Gloucester Road – 19 months after the project was given the go-ahead.
And Bristol City Council has agreed to offer financial help to the private developer behind the scheme, to ensure the long-awaited development in Bishopston is not delayed any further.
Chatsworth Homes is expected to start converting the listed former swimming baths into an NHS health centre this week and, in a few months time, the car park next door will be transformed into a library.
The project is expected to last 18 months and will also see 10 new flats built.
To make sure the work goes ahead without any further delay, the city council has agreed to offer Chatsworth Homes help with its cash flow.
The developer had planned to pay for the project by knocking down the old library in Cheltenham Road and building 36 flats.
But because of the recession and uncertainty in the property market, the plan hit a wall.
As a result, the council has agreed to pay the developer rent on the new Gloucester Road library when it is built, with an agreement that the money is paid back to the authority when the Cheltenham Road flats are finished and sold.
Bristol City Council's deputy leader Simon Cook said: "I've been putting pressure on because this development has had planning permission for some time.
"I'm delighted work will start soon but just wish it had happened sooner.
"There has been a financial restructure and the council has given the developer guarantees around that.
"The idea was for the two projects (Cheltenham Road and Gloucester Road) to happen simultaneously but that has now changed."
The Liberal Democrat added: "The swimming pool building has been boarded up for some time and residents have been cynical about the fact that nothing was happening.
"With work starting, it means the building won't be sitting there empty and rotting away."
James Savage, of campaign group Resource Pool, which called for the 90-year-old former baths building to be handed over for community use, said residents had been waiting for months for work to start on the new library.
But he fears the reduction in shoppers' car parking places which will result from the development could hit the livelihoods of nearby traders. Bristol City Council closed down the popular Bristol North baths in 2005, as part of an overhaul of swimming facilities in the city.
The authority said Bristol North was in disrepair and too expensive to run.
The Bristol Evening Post was unable to contact Chatsworth Homes.

Hi guys, never posted before but a long time user of this site. The areas of undeveloped land were purposly left for a road to be built. If you look closely, The houses on King Georges Road have 3-4 metres of extra grass and drive way in front of the property. This is so the existing road can be widened in the future. They've planned all this for a long time! As for the markings on the field, the image on google earth is out of date. Water mains have been placed here ready for the houses which will surround the new road.

Yup its true. So obvious on the O.S mapping too. The alignment is there all the way from Hartcliffe roundabout to Highridge common. This road has been talked about for decades, it's bout time they got on and built it!

Plan is to have Bus Rapid Transport along it all the way to Hengrove Park, which smacks of... long term planning! In Bristol? Surely not.

Plan is to have Bus Rapid Transport along it all the way to Hengrove Park, which smacks of... long term planning! In Bristol? Surely not.

Of course hardly anyone really needs an orbital BRT link like that, given that a radial link from Hengrove through Bedminster into the centre is already in the planning and might even be available before the ring road extension (but then, who knows). So a cynic might think they'll build a dual carriageway link road and then reserve one lane on each side as 'bus lane' for the BRT to make the whole project more acceptable than a plain ring road. Once it turns out that the radial link is going forward, a study will be pulled out of a drawer that shows that there's no demand for BRT alongside that route, and the BRT lane will promptly be turned into a second lane for general traffic. Good thing I'm not a cynic :laugh:

I do agree that ring road link is very much needed, but what would be even more useful is a link between Hengrove and the A4174/A4 Hick's Gate roundabout (which is not even considered at this stage) or a southern orbital link between the M4 and the M5 (are you laughing yet?).

Southern link between M4 and M5 would be handy(although it would see Bristol completely locked in by Motorway, which I'm not sure is that great), and would make the airport much more accesable, but I can't see it happening in the next 25yrs.

A southern motorway link would be too exorbitant even in the long term (unless Avonmouth starts turning into a new city :|), the completion of the A4147 ringroad from Hicks gate to the A38 and A370 would certainly do much to remedy a lot of congestion. With regards to making the Airport more accessible simply linking the A38 and the A370 via a/the ringroad would go a long way in improving accessibility. If an Emerson's green M4 junction were to be built this would help ease congestion further west too.

A southern motorway link would be too exorbitant even in the long term (unless Avonmouth starts turning into a new city :|), the completion of the A4147 ringroad from Hicks gate to the A38 and A370 would certainly do much to remedy a lot of congestion. With regards to making the Airport more accessible simply linking the A38 and the A370 via a/the ringroad would go a long way in improving accessibility. If an Emerson's green M4 junction were to be built this would help ease congestion further west too.

Does anyone know why this hasn't happened?
It seems ludicrous that the ring road parallels the motorway side by side for two or three miles thus chanelling everyone who uses the east part of the A4174 onto the M32, only to have to turn 180degrees back up alongside the motorway to get to where they are going.....as I do fairly often. It would definately ease congestion. Why does the junction still ot exist? Can't be too hard to construct a link junction between the two.

Does anyone know why this hasn't happened?


A quick search on google came up with this, which mentions it.

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/CSissuesandoptions/viewCompoundDoc?docid=109780&sessionid=&voteid=&partId=111860

It says that in the consultation people have said that "there is a need for a new M4 Junction to serve the increased population".

It then says why it hasn't happened so far:

"M4 Link - A study undertaken by the Government in 2004/05 re-examined the possibility of a new Junction 18A on the M4 to the east of Junction 19 with the M32. The advantages of the scheme would be to provide a more direct route for traffic to and from Emersons Green and other areas to the east of Bristol. Although the new M4 to A4174 link road scheme was found to have a strong economic case, it was not recommended by the study. This was principally because the new link would lead to an increase in vehicle movements locally, in particular the flow on the M4 between J20 and J19. There would also be a substantial increase in flow on the north-eastern sections of the A4174 Avon Ring Road, and a corresponding reduction on the M4 between J19 and J18A as vehicles would use the new junction when travelling to and from the east. It was considered that this would exacerbate capacity problems on the Avon Ring Road. It would also cause congestion problems on the M4 to the east of the new junction with the strong likelihood that the widening of the M4 between Junctions 18A and 18 would be necessary."

I don't go up there often, so i don't know if thats a fair evaluation.

Thanks for the info.

But no I don't think it's a fair evaluation.

A quick search on google came up with this, which mentions it.

https://consultations.southglos.gov.uk/inovem/consult.ti/CSissuesandoptions/viewCompoundDoc?docid=109780&sessionid=&voteid=&partId=111860

It says that in the consultation people have said that "there is a need for a new M4 Junction to serve the increased population".

It then says why it hasn't happened so far:

"M4 Link - A study undertaken by the Government in 2004/05 re-examined the possibility of a new Junction 18A on the M4 to the east of Junction 19 with the M32. The advantages of the scheme would be to provide a more direct route for traffic to and from Emersons Green and other areas to the east of Bristol. Although the new M4 to A4174 link road scheme was found to have a strong economic case, it was not recommended by the study. This was principally because the new link would lead to an increase in vehicle movements locally, in particular the flow on the M4 between J20 and J19. There would also be a substantial increase in flow on the north-eastern sections of the A4174 Avon Ring Road, and a corresponding reduction on the M4 between J19 and J18A as vehicles would use the new junction when travelling to and from the east. It was considered that this would exacerbate capacity problems on the Avon Ring Road. It would also cause congestion problems on the M4 to the east of the new junction with the strong likelihood that the widening of the M4 between Junctions 18A and 18 would be necessary."

I don't go up there often, so i don't know if thats a fair evaluation.

Sorry, but what a stupid reason for not recommending it......surely this the reason for building it?? A 'substantial increase in flow'? What...cars? On the road they need to be on to get home/work?? This is insane! We can't have this. Much better to make them go all the way around and mix/add to the traffic going elsewhere causing a bottleneck don't you think.....?

Jesus, sometimes I wonder what these people are on.

The ring rd is only bad as a direct result of people who have to go all the way around to queue to get on the M32, thus waiting for other streams of traffic going to often entirely different places.

It'll probably be built though what with the science park being built there.

The congestion on the ring road outside of the rush hour is fairly non existant, the only place it's actually noticeable outside of those hours is the Hambrook junction to J1 of the M32.

It'll probably be built though what with the science park being built there.

The congestion on the ring road outside of the rush hour is fairly non existant, the only place it's actually noticeable outside of those hours is the Hambrook junction to J1 of the M32.

Exactly.

I hope we get more (good) news about St Mary Le port soon, it's such a sucky part of town at the moment.

How's Finzel Reach looking at the mo? Any building work begun at all?

How's Finzel Reach looking at the mo? Any building work begun at all?

Last time I saw it they were still busy with the foundation. But at least they're still building. Can't wait for that to go up, it's going to look great. Wonder when the new bridge is scheduled to be put in.

Most other sites in the city are pretty much dead though as far as I can see (with the exception of the new building next to Redcliffe St. One, that one is coming along nicely, and does not look too bad - no brick facade, yay. Oh, and the Bristol Museum / Shed M, which seems to be progressing in slow motion though).

I was in the city centre today and had a quick walk through Castle Park (unfortunately, no camera so no pictures).

Anyway, there's 2 tower cranes now on the Finzel's Reach site and they were definately working there.

Not entirely surprising, but still noteworthy:


Bristol's new £430 million superhospital at Southmead has been granted planning permission.

Bristol City councillors decided unanimously that the redevelopment of the hospital should go ahead at a meeting in the Council House last night.

The development control (north) committee approved the application on behalf of Carillion, which is leading the project as part of a private finance initiative scheme (PFI).

Work is expected to start in February, providing the Department of Health gives final approval and finances are secured.

more... (http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/New-163-430million-Bristol-hospital-given-planning-permission/article-1442932-detail/article.html)

According to the EP the application (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=21802773) to re-develop the Grosvenor Hotel and island site near Temple Meads which was rejected (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=31668778) earlier this year has now been re-submitted:


One of Bristol's worst eyesore sites on a main gateway into the city may soon be redeveloped

Plans have been re-submitted to tear down the derelict Grosvenor Hotel and restore the George and Railway Hotel which stand on a traffic island called Temple Circus near Temple Meads railway station.

Councillors turned down plans to redevelop the site earlier this year.

But developers Temple Circus Developments are now asking them to reconsider the scheme.

(...)

Councillors refused planning permission for the whole site on the grounds that the proposed eight-storey office block for the northern part was too big and too high.

They indicated, however, that they did not have any objections to the proposed restoration of the George and Railway Hotel and a new six-story office block on the southern part of the site.

The developers believe they have another chance to win planning permission for the whole site second time around because of a recent planning appeal on an office block in nearby Victoria Street.

A planning inspector decided to allow the appeal after it had been turned down by councillors for being too tall.

The developers believe this decision will strengthen their hand with their re-submitted plan.

They are also mindful that councillors decided to refuse despite planning officers recommending approval.

A second application has been submitted for the southern part of the site as a belt and braces exercise in case the whole scheme is once again turned down.

full article here (http://www.southwestbusiness.co.uk/bristol/Bristol-city-centre-eyesore-given-new-look-8211-hopefully/article-1446933-detail/article.html)


Anyone know what planning application on Victoria Street they're refering to?

According to the EP the application (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=21802773) to re-develop the Grosvenor Hotel and island site near Temple Meads which was rejected (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=31668778) earlier this year has now been re-submitted:



Anyone know what planning application on Victoria Street they're refering to?

It may be the one on the triangle plot of land sort of opposite the Asian supermarket.

It's such a stupid reason to reject a proposal, it was only 8 stories tall . My god the council can be so bloody moronic it just makes you want to murder the lot of em.

Hmm - interesting development at BCFC if this is true

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8323968.stm

Switching to Sainsburys instead of Tesco, with Sainsburys closing their existing supermarket nearby may get around the issue of their being too many supermarkets in the area already.

Not sure why Sainsburys would really want to do this though (apart from to stop Tesco opening nearby). The Winterstoke Road Sainsburys is fairly new and quite large anyway.

Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb now and predict that the new stadium will be given PP next week.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-City-new-stadium-recommended-approval/article-1459401-detail/article.html



Bristol City's new stadium recommended for approval
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 09:00

Bristol City's plans for a £65 million stadium at Ashton Vale have been recommended for approval by city planners.

Officers at Bristol City Council have released a 139 page report on the clubs application for a 30,000 stadium to replace Ashton Gate, due to be discussed at a meeting next week.

They recommend the south and east development control committee is "minded to approve" the plans for the new Bristol City stadium, hotel and part of the proposed housing.

But officers say the council should not support some residential development on the site.

Any approval would be on the condition that a solution is found for providing pedestrian access between Winterstoke Road and the stadium.

The proposal will also need to come back to the committee in six months time, if the recommendations are agreed.

The committee is due to hear the application next Thursday.


One of the main groups objecting seem to have been dealt with now - they didn't want the old stadium to be turned into a Tesco. Tesco have confirmed that they're pulling out and Sainsburys are in talks to take over the site now. This is OK because they'll close down their existing supermarket in the area and move to Ashton Gate instead - keeping the number of supermarkets in the area down to 2 still.

The other group which has suddenly started objecting to this is Avon Wildlife Trust. They claim that the new site has rare species living on it. Not sure how big a problem this could be - an independent survey should've been done as part of the PP application and the town planners have still giving this the go-ahead. So, it just boils down to on the night next week will there be any councillors who just want to object to it for any reason (political reasons? Bristol Rovers supporters?) and are looking for an excuse or not.

Nah, I wouldn't say that's 'out on a limb' Dronk. It was always gonna get the green light from the outset IMO. If I was a betting man i'd put my mortgage on it...
With the other application - the Ashton Gate supermarket site - it seems quite likely it may also be approved with the pulling out of Tesco. The decision has been deferred for a week, I believe. Sainsburys have very good reasons for this development. Their PR spin is that the current store on Winterstoke 'cannot cope with demand' but it's clear they simply want to keep Tesco out of the area. The current store is a bit pokey I'll grant them that, and it does seem to take ages to queue at the checkouts whenever I've been there. But with a Tesco nearby they'd probably have to close, so it's a dog eat dog fight for survival..
The other plus point is that the store closing will be turned into affordable housing, which ticks yet another box.

Hi guys
Here is a video on the New Weston Pier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8331000/8331394.stm

That was quick! Great to see progress already..

I've just seen that word of the Bristol Arena has resurfaced for the first time in ages. Don't get too excited, but it was mentioned by a member of the BCFC board when talking about BCC's non-recommendation of a portion of their stadium application known as Southlands. It the residential part at the bottom of the plot (hence the name, I suppose!), and we'll just have to see whether the whole thing is passed by planners next week before we can have any realistic ideas about what might take shape there. Just a heads up..

Quite frankly an Arena anywhere in Bristol would be great, a city centre location would be ideal but beggars and all that.


Also the Blue reef aquarium by the Harbourside is meant to be opening up any day now isn't it?

Quite frankly an Arena anywhere in Bristol would be great, a city centre location would be ideal but beggars and all that.


Also the Blue reef aquarium by the Harbourside is meant to be opening up any day now isn't it?

They're running a little behind schedule, now aiming for the second week in November I think.

Ok, I'm gonna go out on a limb now and predict that the new stadium will be given PP next week.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-City-new-stadium-recommended-approval/article-1459401-detail/article.html



One of the main groups objecting seem to have been dealt with now - they didn't want the old stadium to be turned into a Tesco. Tesco have confirmed that they're pulling out and Sainsburys are in talks to take over the site now. This is OK because they'll close down their existing supermarket in the area and move to Ashton Gate instead - keeping the number of supermarkets in the area down to 2 still.

The other group which has suddenly started objecting to this is Avon Wildlife Trust. They claim that the new site has rare species living on it. Not sure how big a problem this could be - an independent survey should've been done as part of the PP application and the town planners have still giving this the go-ahead. So, it just boils down to on the night next week will there be any councillors who just want to object to it for any reason (political reasons? Bristol Rovers supporters?) and are looking for an excuse or not.

I'm pretty sure the councillors will support the stadium (as in minded to approve as it breaches the local plan), but it will be interesting to see if they support the officer recommendation to refuse the southern housing site as they consider BCFC not to have made a strong enough case. This leaves Lansdown about £10 million short apparently, but it's difficult to convincingly argue you must have this housing or it won't happen when you're in the UK's top 100 richest men (or thereabouts).

Forgot to mention, went past the new building at the top of Park street yesterday by the westend car park - is it Catherine Place or something like that? Thought it fitted in really well with it's surroundings and is a decent addition to the area..
Sorry no pics.

I was down at Castle Park yesterday and took a few photos of the work going on at Finzels Reach - they're quite busy down there work at the moment.

Erm, unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the cable to hook my mobile up to my computer (to download the photo's off of it).

Hi guys
Here is a video on the New Weston Pier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8331000/8331394.stm

This needs to be in the Weston-super-Mare forum.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=764010

Pederson onsite hotel to take off at Bristol International Airport
10:28 | 19.10.09

By Nick Duxbury

Bristol International Airport (BIA) has signed an agreement with Pedersen Airport Hotels to develop the airport’s first on-site hotel.

The agreement will lead to the construction of a 250 room hotel 100 metres from the terminal building that will target passengers departing on early morning flights or arriving late in the evening.

Facilities in the proposed £20m hotel will include meeting rooms, a licensed bar and full service restaurant, as well as dedicated car parking.

Pedersen expects to select a brand in the next few months and to submit a detailed planning application by the developer within the next six months, with the hotel opening planned for 2012.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer at BIA, said: “With passenger numbers now rising again, this agreement further demonstrates our commitment to improving airport facilities and bringing leading brands to the South West."

Robert Hodge, director at Pedersen, said: “The airport has a great need for this facility and is the largest airport in the UK without an onsite hotel.”

Pedersen already owns three hotels in Bristol: the Novotel in Victoria Street, the Mercure on Welsh Back and the Ibis at Temple Quay, all in conjunction with Accor.

CBRE Hotels advised Pedersen. PKF advised BIA.



Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=297&storycode=3151368&c=1#ixzz0VWfJvlHF

Ok, well tonight was the night for the council meeting about the stadium and they DID approve the recommendations made by the planning officers last week.

So, the majority of the application was approved (the stadium being the main thing!) however the proposed housing on the southern edge of the development wasn't approved and the council have said that they want a further report in 6 months to clear up a few issues they have elsewhere.

As the club have said that without the housing development, there is a large hole in the stadium finances and they can't afford it without that development, I've no idea when we'll actually see the bulldozers on site for this.

The other major chunk of funding is to sell their existing ground, Ashton Gate, to Sainsbury and the planning application to turn that into a supermarket wont be dealt with until the new year now. If that also doesn't happen then the club really wont have the money for to build this.

Some of the protestors have applied for town green status, hmmm this situation seems familiar :|

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-City-s-stadium-stopped-town-green/article-1489212-detail/article.html

I was down at Castle Park yesterday and took a few photos of the work going on at Finzels Reach - they're quite busy down there work at the moment.

Erm, unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the cable to hook my mobile up to my computer (to download the photo's off of it).

Ok, a bit late, but as promised

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7796/dsc00227s.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/833/dsc00228dy.jpg

Cheers for the pics Dronk. Looks like it is gathering pace after a long time spent on ground works.

On another note - Lo and behold! Thought this might be on the cards....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8352000/8352444.stm

Cheers for the pics Dronk. Looks like it is gathering pace after a long time spent on ground works.

On another note - Lo and behold! Thought this might be on the cards....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8352000/8352444.stm

Just read the aritcle on BBC website. It's strange as someone just the other day mentioned the arena on here. Once again though I feel a slight sinking feeling because we have all been here before. Great ideas, good plans but the crucial factor of cost and actual commitment from the Council and developers always seems to go belly up. Obviously I thing Bristol desperately needs a world class music venue and no offence to Ashton Gate where some concerts take place but it is not suitable and doesn't create a ambient atmosphere. Considering Bristol is also much bigger population than Cardiff and is easily in the top 10 largest and richest cities in the UK whilst being capital of the South West we just do not have the equivilent large scale community venues which other similar size cities have across the UK like Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and so on.

Yeah I mentioned it a few posts above.
W e need this to happen. Could be a long way off though, as there must be quite a few hurdles to jump yet.

With the Arena, I wont actually believe anything is happening until the diggers are on site and construction has started. Even then, I wont be holding my breath until it's opened.

Saying all that though, both sites have potential - good transport links for both of them and close to other developments that would work well with an arena. There was, of course, as for all developments in Bristol, a fairly active anti-Arena group when the original proposal for one at Temple Meads was talked about, so I can see them gearing up for action again. And I doubt the Ashton Vale lot will happily accept an Arena as well as the stadium either.