A CITY FOR ALL Creating a sustainable, fairer future
On 3rd January 2020 Galliford Try Partnerships officially became part of the Vistry Group, assuming a new name: Vistry Partnerships. Vistry Group incorporates four different successful businesses: Bovis Homes, Linden Homes, Vistry Partnerships and Drew Smith. By combining the talents of each of these great businesses Vistry Group becomes one of the top 5 housebuilders in the UK.
“ Worked with over 60 Registered Providers delivering new homes Over £3.5bn in Joint Venture Schemes Delivered over 55 projects for Over 55’s Engaged with over 2,000 people through workshops and courses in our skills academies
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Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive, Vistry Partnerships. The newly merged Group will have enviable financial strength and a great operating platform. We are very excited to work with our valued clients, business partners and dedicated people in delivering new homes and great places. To find out more about who we are and what we are working on within your region, please contact us:
e: w:
info@vistrypartnerships.co.uk vistrypartnerships.co.uk
vistrypartnerships.co.uk
To date we have:
We will be much more than the sum of our parts. Within Partnerships delivering homes and revitalising communities is at the heart of what we do. Working with Local Authorities, Registered Providers and Investors, we create lasting partnerships and deliver vibrant, sustainable places to live.
Issue Four
7 News
Development updates in Bristol. 14 Climate Emergency
Reporting on how the city is taking action to combat climate change. 21 Enterprise and Education
A look at plans for the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.
26 Creative Ecosystem How the arrival of Channel 4 has fuelled the creative industries. 30 Emergent sectors
The city’s burgeoning life sciences sector is set to grow economy. 35 Sport and Wellbeing
From Olympic success to community fitness initiatives. 41 One City
Setting the agenda for a fairer future. 47 Innovation
Embracing green technologies for both new builds and renovations.
51 Projects The current regeneration schemes that are transforming the area.
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elcome to the Spring 2020 edition of Bristol Is Magazine, enabling us to showcase our work as a pioneering city. It highlights how Bristol is future-proofing for changes to our climate, creating an inclusive economy where new and established businesses can thrive and how our successful city partnerships are key to our approach. There are updates about our life sciences and creative sectors, the innovation in housebuilding and our path to carbon neutrality. We also show how collaboration in Bristol’s learning, education and skills sector is delivering inclusive opportunity hand in hand with cutting edge digital and technical development. Bristol is strengthening its global position as a connected, inclusive and dynamic city. If you’d like to find out more and join us on this journey, come and see us at MIPIM in March or contact mayor@bristol.gov.uk Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
EDITOR Jane Thynne EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Suruchi Sharma DESIGN Kate Harkus PRODUCTION MANAGER Christopher Hazeldine BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Paul Gussar SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Shelley Cook PROJECT MANAGER Sue Mapara SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Simon Maxwell MANAGING DIRECTOR Toby Fox PRINTED BY Manson Group PUBLISHED BY 3Fox International, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational.com SUBSCRIPTIONS bristol-is.com FOR MORE INFORMATION business@bristol.gov.uk COVER: University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus illustration IMAGES: Bristol City Council, Anthony Brown / Alamy, Paul Groom Photography, BT, Stefan Dahl Langstrup / Alamy, Evan Dawson / Alamy, Chris Bahn / Bristol Design, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Max4e Photo / Alamy, High Level Photograph, edxBristol 2019 Gareth Evans, Matt Lincoln, Ecosse Films 2019, Xinhua / Alamy, Phil Hutchinson / Alamy, Zoe Potter, Rogan Thomson/JMP, pmgimaging / Alamy, STRAVA, Credit: Adrian Sherratt / Alamy, Rob Arnold / Alamy, © Craig Auckland / Fotohaus ©2020 3Fox International Limited. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of 3Fox International Ltd is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of 3Fox International Ltd.
We’re committed to being carbon neutral by 2025. Find out more at bristolairport.co.uk Our carbon neutrality target relates to emissions in our direct control, including Scope 1 (produced directly from sources that are owned and controlled by the company) and Scope 2 (generation of electricity, heating and cooling).
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
‘WE WILL STRIVE FOR A FUTURE WHERE EVERYONE EARNS A FAIR WAGE’
BRISTOL RECOGNISED AS A ‘LIVING WAGE CITY’ Bristol is celebrating after being recognised as a ‘Living Wage City’ by the Living Wage Foundation. The initiative is an independent movement of businesses and people that campaign for the idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. Promoting to employers the benefits of paying the ‘real living wage’ based on the cost of living, which more accurately reflects the needs of employees and their families than the ‘national living wage’. Not only is Bristol one of the first to be acknowledged as a Living Wage City, it is currently the largest. The award recognises the work of Bristol Living Wage Action Group – a coalition of employers in Bristol that includes Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol. There are currently almost 20,000 employees working for 165 accredited Living Wage businesses in the area. “Making Bristol a Living Wage City is a perfect example of the public and private sectors working together to achieve positive change for the city,” said Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees. “It’s great to see employers in Bristol come together,” added Clare Goff, project manager at the Living Wage Foundation. “Our research shows that 93% of employers who pay the real Living Wage have seen the business benefits, including to reputation, and the bottom line, as well as staff retention, lower recruitment costs, increased motivation and fewer sick days taken.”* Bristol City Council and the Action Group have now embarked on a three-year strategy to double the number of Living Wage-accredited employers, thus lifting thousands more people out of ‘in-work poverty’. The Action Group will start by targeting sectors such as hospitality, retail and tourism where workers frequently find themselves trapped in low pay. Bristol City Council is holding various networking opportunities in order to inform companies about the benefits of signing up to the Living Wage programme. *Figures taken from Living Wage Foundation and Cardiff Business School 2017
Following the City Gathering, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees spoke of his commitment to a “future where everyone earns a fair wage for a hard day’s work”; where “earning a real Living Wage is the benchmark, not the aspiration”. He says: “The TUC took to the stage at our City Gathering exactly a year ago to challenge the city to improve wages. Therefore, it seemed fitting that we used the City Gathering to share this major success [being named a Living Wage City] with hundreds of employers across Bristol. “Financial security, or the lack of, affects every aspect of life. It impacts on housing, mental and physical health, educational attainment and crime. Increasing the pay of those working in our city is key to unlocking improvements in each of these areas. “Making Bristol a Living Wage City is a perfect example of something we, as a council could not achieve on our own. It demonstrates the collective power we have to make Bristol a fairer city for everyone and a true city of hope.”
To find out more about Bristol’s Living Wage initiatives, visit: business@bristol.gov.uk or for more information about the Living Wage Foundation, visit: livingwage.org.uk
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
C4 GETS CREATIVE WITH NEW HUB Broadcaster Channel 4 is getting down to business after officially opening its new Creative Hub based in Finzels Reach. At its recent launch event – attended by staff and various stakeholders – Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon said the new base would enable the broadcaster to tap into the deep pools of talent in the South West and Wales. Bristol saw off competition from 30 other UK cities to become the preferred destination for the broadcaster’s new hub which will be a home for key creative decision makers and commissioning departments including daytime; drama; factual and popular factual. The Creative Diversity team will also have a presence in Bristol to help nurture and develop on and off-screen talent.
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol is an ideal partner for Channel 4, as a thriving, diverse and innovative city. It’s also a hotbed of creative talent which is developed and sustained by a wealth of industry partners and experts. “Our success was the result of a citywide effort and a shared enthusiasm for what the move means for our region in terms of jobs and investment. We look forward to working with C4 to help broaden industry access for creative talent from all areas of Bristol.’’ The Finzels Reach set up is one of three new centres for C4 – comprising a national HQ in Leeds and a second Creative Hub in Glasgow – that aims to be at the heart of its ‘4 All the UK’ strategy to better represent viewers from a wider base.
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
MULTIMILLION-POUND BOOST BRINGS ISLAND BACK TO LIFE More than 500 homes and 1,500 new jobs will be created following the redevelopment of the disused Temple Island site in the centre of the city. As well as regenerating the land which has stood untouched for 40 years, the scheme will also provide Bristol’s economy with a projected £832 million boost over the next two decades. It will deliver a mix of homes and office space (with the latter expected to bring in an annual rental revenue of £1.69 million), and more than £1 million annually in business rates and council tax rates for Bristol City Council. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said the scheme, which alongside L&G’s investment will see £32 million of public money being spent, is a “win-win” for the city’s residents as it will “tackle four problems in one”. Mayor Rees said: “It is a real example of how we make business decisions and use available resources in the most responsible way so we can continue to provide the services that our citizens expect and deserve. “This is a fantastic chance to bring a redundant piece
of land in the heart of the city back to life and provide jobs, homes and an economic boost that all Bristol citizens will benefit from. With these plans we can continue to develop a vibrant Temple Quarter where homes, work and leisure combine to be a place that Bristol can be proud of. Temple Island sits alongside the Temple Quarter/St Philip’s regeneration and showcases real progress in the plans to transform this area of the city. Alongside the new homes – of which up to 40% will be affordable – will be a state-of-the-art conference centre and a 350-bed hotel with potential for a rooftop sky bar with views across the city. New public spaces are also planned, as well as a raft of shops and restaurants. In terms of commercial provision, high standard office space will be developed to support the ever-present demand from local businesses and those looking to establish themselves in Bristol. Companies will be able to capitalise on the area’s rail network at Temple Meads, the University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, neighbouring communities and the local road network.
WELL CONNECTED Bristol recently became one of the first cities in the UK to be connected to the superfast 5G network. Launched through EE (the UK’s largest mobile operator and part of BT Group), the technology will enable a faster, more reliable mobile connection, helping a range of sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing. Bristol has also been named as one of Openreach’s eight ‘Fibre First’ cities in the UK, which will see it gain access to some of the fastest broadband speeds available. Openreach – the separate company within BT Group that connects homes and businesses to the broadband network – has already started work in the city, laying fibre-optic cables all the way to people’s front doors. Bristol is a showcase city for BT, highlighting how the latest, connected technology can make communities safer and improve the lives of citizens. →
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
BIG WIN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES Bristol City Council has been honoured for its commitment to small businesses at a special presentation event organised by Britain’s biggest business representation group. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which offers members a wide range of vital business services, including advice, financial expertise and support, recently staged its second Local Authority Awards for the 11 councils throughout Gloucestershire and the West of England honouring the work they do to help their SME companies. Bristol City Council scooped the ‘Most Innovative Small Business Campaign’ trophy for producing what the FSB judges described as an “excellent” toolkit to help local businesses use their localism and community involvement to try to win procurement contracts via the Social Value Act. The judges said of Bristol: “One of the hardest things SMEs face is getting noticed in the procurement world. Many big businesses have staff that do nothing else but fill in all the right forms to try and capture vital procurement contracts and SMEs can feel at a disadvantage as their resources and expertise with such contracts are obviously more limited.” Ken Simpson, FSB area lead for the Bristol area, said he had been very impressed with the submitted entries. “We hope these awards will spur our councils to provide even more ideas and initiatives to help small businesses in the future.”
Above: FSB award winners. Below: FSB area lead for Bristol Ken Simpson (left), with Bristol City Council’s deputy mayor Cllr Craig Cheney.
PROJECT OFFERS A HELPING HAND A new £1.7 million South Bristol Enterprise Project, designed to provide dedicated specialist support and grant funding for prospective entrepreneurs, businesses and residents across the area, is set to get under way in the coming months. The three-year scheme is intended to create jobs and bring inclusive economic benefits, by providing coaching, advice and support services for traditional and new industrial sectors. It will particularly focus its efforts on areas and groups currently underrepresented in enterprise and business. Mike Knight, BID scheme manager, Cater Business Park Business Improvement District, welcomed the announcement and said: “Such a project could create 97 new full-time equivalent jobs. It will also bring inclusive economic benefits, by providing coaching, advice and support services for traditional and new industrial sectors.” Bristol City Council will operate as the lead project partner on the scheme that is due to launch this spring with financial backing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the West of England Combined Authority.
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS ON THE RIGHT TRACK New figures released recently show that Bristol Temple Meads is the most overall improved station in the UK, following a survey carried out by independent watchdog Transport Focus. The twice-yearly study asked around 30,000 passengers for their views on the railway. Bristol Temple Meads achieved a passenger satisfaction score of 83%, up 12% from last year – the biggest improvement of any Network Rail managed station in the country. Overall passenger satisfaction on Network Rail’s Western route has improved by 7% since 2018, making Western one of the top scoring lines in the UK with a passenger satisfaction score of 86%. Reading remains the top scoring station for passenger satisfaction on the route, achieving a score of 92%. The findings are also good news for Bristol as a whole as Temple Meads is at the heart of the city’s Temple Quarter/ St Philip’s regeneration programme that aims to create a sustainable, thriving new urban quarter with 22,000 new jobs and thousands of new homes. The station is key to making the city better connected and more accessible. Network Rail said the results reflected the “unprecedented investment” on the route over the past five years, with services now running under electric power to Newbury and Chippenham, as well as between Cardiff and London Paddington – providing capital-to-capital travel under electric for the first time. Planned improvements for the station are set to transform it into a 21st-century transport hub by doubling
GO WEST The newly-formed Western Gateway is set to make its international debut when it takes its place alongside the Midlands Engine and Northern Powerhouse as part of the UK government’s pavilion at MIPIM, the annual international property event held in Cannes. Launched late last year, the Western Gateway is an economic partnership that stretches along the M4 from Swansea in the west to Swindon in the east and north from Weston-Super-Mare to Gloucestershire and has the cities of Bristol and Cardiff at its heart. The partnership, which aims to create a cleaner, fairer future, says it has the potential to add more than £56 billion to the UK economy by 2030, while leading the transition to a net zero future. It is chaired by Katherine Bennett CBE, senior vice-president of Airbus UK and has three main areas of focus: connectivity, international trade and innovation.
its passenger capacity to 22 million a year. There will also be a range of accompanying measures to reduce congestion. These include: easier navigation within the station; the creation of new platforms as well as upgrades to existing ones; a new eastern entrance linking to the University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and the east of the city; and the introduction of a new concourse at the northern gateway, featuring improved retail, ticket office and passenger facilities. This area will also open up to a new transport hub with easy connections for pedestrians, cyclists and the local and citywide bus network. Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s route managing director for Western, said: “Bristol Temple Meads achieving the most improved UK station is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication of the station team. There are lots of improvements still to come as we remain committed to putting passengers first and delivering the highest levels of service and satisfaction.”
It has outlined plans to introduce a world-class digital infrastructure and a Western Gateway travel scheme to enable people to travel anywhere within the region in a ‘golden hour’ with one smart ticket. It also seeks to create a co-ordinated approach to international trade and travel, billing itself as a ‘Global Gateway’ for trade, as well as working collaboratively across the region’s hightech sectors to create a raft of 21st-century industries. At the heart of its vision is a focus on inclusive and low-carbon economic growth, where scale and collaboration can deliver more for citizens than the constituent parts could achieve alone.
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BRISTOL IS NEWS
BRISTOL IS GOING FOR GOLD Businesses across the area are being asked to take action as Bristol embarks on a mission to become a ‘Gold Sustainable Food City’. One of only four cities to have already achieved the ‘Silver’ award in a scheme run by the Sustainable Food Cities partnership, Bristol is encouraging communities to not only waste less food, but buy more responsibly and even grow for themselves. The ‘Going for Gold’ initiative is broken down into six key food action areas – buying better, food waste, urban growing, community action, eating better and food equality – and examples of actions businesses can take ranging from providing reusable
cutlery for employees and ordering fruit boxes from local greengrocers, to creating workplace growing areas or ditching the water cooler in favour of the tap. Organisations are being asked to register and report their good deeds at goingforgoldbristol.co.uk and to post or tweet using the hashtag #goingforgoldbristol. Special badges are awarded for each achievement. Meanwhile, the council’s Bristol Eating Better Award scheme recognises food businesses and schools that take action to offer healthier food options and promote sustainability. Successful businesses will naturally be helping Bristol in its efforts to claim Gold Sustainable Food City status.
FESTIVAL AIMS TO FUEL IDEAS As part of this year’s Festival of Ideas, the British Council, Bristol City Council and Bristol Cultural Development Partnership have issued a call to residents to register for the Social Innovation Grants Scheme. The aim of the campaign is to tackle social problems and better meet community needs by connecting people and cities through face-to-face and digital activities. Offered for the first time last year, 14 Bristol applicants were awarded micro-grants of between £250 and £1,000 to develop international networks, knowledge and partnerships. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “I’m delighted Bristol is once again at the forefront of the scheme. “It reflects the diverse and international nature of individuals and organisations collaborating within
the city to bring positive impacts to our communities.” Successful past projects included pioneering an online trauma awareness training programme to meet the needs of those providing refugee services; an innovative approach to food and horticulture production; a report on the legacy of slavery; and the potential to develop ecofriendly tourism schemes. Participants also got the chance to work with partner projects in places such as Berlin, Dakar and New York. “We are hoping to support projects across a mix of sectors, some individuals and some organisations, from different parts of the city,” said the British Council’s Kathy McArdle. “For us, it is vital that we draw on the creativity of citizens and international collaboration to address the enormous challenges we face in the next 10 years.”
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BRISTOL IS GREEN
A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Suruchi Sharma reports on the city’s commitment to tackle the climate emergency
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BRISTOL IS GREEN
B
ack in December, Bristol trip-hop band Massive Attack issued a timely declaration – for the rest of its European tour the trio would travel to gigs only by train. The aim: to reduce the band’s carbon emissions. Founder Robert Del Naja talked about the need to make “personal sacrifices” to help the environment, while insisting on the requirement of a wider “systematic change”. This was a key intervention in the battle to tackle climate change that caught the public’s attention. The trio’s decision followed in the footsteps of Bristol City Council – the first UK authority to declare a climate emergency in November 2018. In keeping with its ambition to make Bristol carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030, the city has certainly racked up a list of enviable environmental firsts. Besides its climate emergency declaration, it was the first to embed leadership of the New Green Deal in its cabinet structure; and the first authority to review its progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was also a key player in the Local Government Association’s decision to support the SDGs motion. In the past year, 435 councils have declared a climate emergency and endorsed the SDGs. Last year the council launched its Climate Change Emergency Action Plan, which builds upon its years of environmental achievements – not least its status as the UK’s first European Green Capital, bestowed in 2015. The comprehensive action plan straddles many offices, and includes ecologically-focused training courses for staff; the introduction of climate-saving measures on social housing via its energy company, Bristol Energy; and the creation of electric vehicle charging points. Bristol City Council has also asked public sector organisations to have at least 30% of their vehicle fleet switch to non-fossil fuel by 2026.
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BRISTOL IS GREEN Pictured clockwise from top left Councillor Kye Dudd takes to two wheels as the city is encouraged to embrace electric vehicles and greater use of public transport.
Alex Minshull, the council’s sustainable city and climate change manager, highlights the need to engage all Bristolians. “We must recognise people’s [carbon] footprints are not all the same size,” he points out. “Some people have got big carbon footprints, for example, if they spend a lot of time flying, or drive long distances, or if they’re consuming many goods. However, many people on low incomes have relatively small footprints, mainly to do with heating homes and day to day travel needs.”
WE HAVE A MASSIVELY ENGAGED POPULATION AND SWITCHED-ON COMMUNITY LEADERS One of the key parts of the action plan is to call on the government to push through national policies and to help provide increased powers and resources at the local level. “Alongside the council doing all it can legally do, and the people of Bristol doing everything they can reasonably do, we still need national government to act – with regulations, finances and by granting new local powers,” says Minshull. “To achieve carbon reduction targets we are looking at
changes to our transport, heating and electricity systems. All of these things require active public participation. The city council can provide electric charging points and bus and bike lanes but we need everyone – the council, businesses and the public – to make full use of them.” In January 2019, Bristol launched its One City Plan, outlining where the city wants to be in 2050 and how city partners will work together to create a fair, healthy and sustainable city. There are six themes that the city plan aims to address : connectivity, economy, health and wellbeing, homes and communities, learning and skills and crucially the environment. Each theme has a ‘board’ with business,
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BRISTOL IS GREEN
ONE CITY IN ACTION
The Bristol Environmental Sustainability Board has 18 members and leads on the delivery of the One City Plan. It is co-chaired by Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and Ann Cousins (pictured right), a senior consultant at engineering consultancy Arup. Other members come from the fields of education and health. Andrea Dell, co-head of Bristol’s One City Office, says: “We’re really happy about the board. It’s getting a lot of traction and there is a fantastic range of people on it.” She adds that just like the One City Plan the board is evolving. It is currently overseeing the production of the One City Climate Strategy, due to be completed later this spring. The Environmental Sustainability Board has three key priorities for 2020, including: establishing a long-term City Leap Energy Partnership to deliver £1 billion worth of lowcarbon smart energy infrastructure; to ensure the city is accredited with a gold standard in the Sustainable Food City awards; and to guarantee that 50% of all waste is sent for reuse, recycling and composting. Dell adds: “The board is designed to reach out into networks to help push things on and to assess our progress as a City Office. These are ambitious targets designed to force action so we can reach our 2050 goals.”
community and city council staff working collaboratively and with the other boards. The Bristol Environmental Sustainability Board (see panel) is helping to reach several important goals. Andrea Dell, along with Ed Rowberry, is co-head of Bristol’s One City Office, the team responsible for the plan. She says community engagement is something the board is focusing on in 2020 and highlights the importance of a “two-way dialogue” between its members and Bristol residents. While council investments in its low-carbon heat network, wind turbines and solar farms are already helping its future environmental aims, the exciting City Leap project is on a global search for investors to support projects that will help Bristol become the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2030. Run by the council and its energy company, Bristol Energy, City Leap is a key part of the city council’s programme for carbon reduction. An initial City Leap Prospectus in 2018 looked at the ambition and technology available to boost current environmentally-friendly schemes. Within months almost 200 organisations ranging from local and national community-based groups to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from the UK, Europe, the Far East and
CITY LEAP WILL PUT A ROCKET UNDER OUR AMBITIONS MEANING A MUCH GREATER SCALE OF DELIVERY Australia had expressed interest in investing. This led to a formal procurement process which aims to find a strategic partner by the end of 2020 with the first project delivered by April 2021. Councillor Kye Dudd, Bristol City Council’s cabinet lead for energy, says: “From a decarbonisation perspective, City Leap is the biggest intervention the council has ever made. In terms of environmental as well as social and economic objectives, it has genuine potential to both completely transform the energy system, and the lives of Bristolians.” Dudd says that council investment into energy projects – such as delivering the heat network, the creation of 120 electrical charging points to be installed this year, as well as the identification of potential opportunities for renewables – will be ongoing. He adds: “These things are still ticking on, but City Leap will put a rocket under our ambitions, meaning a much greater scale of delivery and at the pace we need to truly address the climate emergency.” Dudd says the “ultimate goal is decarbonisation” but just as important is “reducing fuel poverty and improving the standards of living and homes” across the city as a whole. “Understanding the interconnections of our carbon emissions with the economic and social aspects of the city will also be key to Bristol’s delivery of the SDGs. If we can decarbonise in a way that leaves no one behind, we will also be delivering on many of the interconnections found in the SDG agenda. However, similar to our carbon neutrality declaration, achieving the SDGs will require a collaborative One City approach.” Working collaboratively is an easy feat in a city such as Bristol where the local authority has worked in partnership with community groups loaning out land to install solar farms and funding projects allowing renewables to be built. Dudd adds: “We have a massively engaged population here and really switched-on community leaders who see climate change as something to take seriously and to act upon.” b
WESTERN GATEWAY OUR AMBITION
Propelling a greener, fairer, stronger Britain CONNECTIVITY
GLOBAL GATEWAY
INNOVATION
Ambition 1
Ambition 2
Ambition 3
Deliver world class physical and digital connectivity, boosting productivity, unlocking housing growth and leading our transition to a net zero future.
Become Britain’s gateway to global markets, increasing export and investment-led growth, marketing our industries and expertise to the world.
Spark collaboration and innovation in our distinctive high-tech sectors, universities and R&D assets, making the most of the region’s renewable and environmental assets.
A powerhouse for south Wales and western England
Northern Powerhouse
Midlands Engine
Western Gateway
The Western Gateway has long been a powerhouse waiting to happen, and is ready to capitalise on its phenomenal potential to drive Britain’s cleaner, fairer future.
Cheltenham Swansea
Gloucester Newport Cardiff
Swindon Bristol Bath Weston-super-Mare
western-gateway.co.uk
Salisbury
Geography and membership correct at the time of publication (February 2020). As a developing partnership this may grow or change over time, and up-to-date details of our membership can always be found on our website, www.western-gateway.co.uk
A place to do things differently and create a better future
Because Tomorrow Matters
Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will provide inspiring spaces to meet, learn and make new connections. At the forefront of digital, business and social innovation, the new campus will create opportunities to learn, research and innovate at scale. bristol.ac.uk/templequarter
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Bristol is long-famed as a centre of academic excellence. Now the University of Bristol is embarking on a new approach to education at the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. Shailja Morris finds out more
BRISTOL IS EDUCATING
TO BOLDLY GO‌
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BRISTOL IS EDUCATING
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE SKILLS AND INCOME INEQUALITY WHICH IS LEAVING SOME COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR CITY
Pictured the view from above - an aerial view of the new campus.
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WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH A WHOLE SET OF DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS He adds: “The cutting-edge research spaces will allow us to work on real-life challenges facing society, such as how technology might shape the future of work or what artificial intelligence means for all of us. Working with our partners, we will be able to explore not just how technology might shape our lives, but how people can also shape technology. We want to involve some of those who might not currently be part of the conversation – for example, older people who are less likely to be online, as well as members of some migrant communities, for whom English isn’t their first language – and to do so from the ground up, rather than thinking of them when we get to page 100 to assess the risks involved. That is the big opportunity of the campus.” The university’s new digital research facility, Bristol Digital Futures Institute, will also be taking up residence at Temple Quarter. Its impressive array of 27 partner organisations ranges from Airbus, BBC, BT, Business West and smaller bodies such as Black South West Network and Ashley Community Housing. “If you have someone from a mobile phone network based in the building, along with Black South West Network and a community group from Hartcliffe, they will be working on these urgent challenge we all face in partnership with researchers and students in the same space.” The seven-acre campus will lie to the east of Temple
BRISTOL IS EDUCATING
I
nclusivity and innovation are the two pillars supporting the University of Bristol’s ambitious new vision for its proposed Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus. The project aims to reimagine the idea of the university as a civic institution with a broad research and teaching offer that will benefit all sections of the community and help drive social mobility for its less affluent members. As well as delivering a new model for research that will see industrial, digital and technology heavyweights sharing ‘areas of collaboration’ with academic and third sector experts, the campus will form a vital part of the wider economic regeneration of Bristol’s Temple Quarter and enhance the city’s reputation as a global destination for innovation. The campus will be home to the university’s new School of Management, its Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Bristol Digital Futures Institute, the Quantum Technology Innovation Centre, the Inclusive Economy Initiative, and parts of digital engineering. Professor Tom Sperlinger, who is the academic lead for engagement for the project, explains: “Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus will be unique in that it will bring together very different disciplines, such as engineering and social sciences, alongside a range of partners. “Many universities work with particular partners on specific challenges but we are curating a broad range across several issues. These enterprise and civic partners will be onsite with us. They will have 350 spaces to work within the building and they will be working with each other, as well as our research services and students.”
Hard at work the new campus will combine learning and enterprise space.
Meads railway station, taking in Temple Island and the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office. In its place will be two glazed buildings providing teaching, research and innovation space for 3,000 students and around 800 members of staff and partner organisations. They will be surrounded by landscaped public spaces and new pedestrian and cycle routes joining the urban centre to the east of the city. The location of the university’s campus is in contrast to its traditional base in the affluent Clifton area. Prof. Sperlinger says: “Temple Quarter is close to the east of Bristol and near communities in south Bristol which have fairly high levels of deprivation and unemployment. We now have an opportunity to engage with a whole set of different relationships in the community – so we can learn from them, and they can learn from us.” The new campus will offer a flexible undergraduate degree for local residents who may not possess conventional qualifications that would naturally lead to a university education. There will be a chance for workers to study in the evening via the creation of a programme of activities called Twilight Temple Quarter. The team is also keen to recruit more staff from the local communities, “so they can really become part of the university,” says Prof. Sperlinger. Jane Taylor, head of employment, skills and learning at Bristol City Council says: “The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus and entire Enterprise Zone development represents a unique opportunity to address the skills and income inequality, which is leaving some communities outside the economic growth in the city. “Through our Learning City Partnership, the local authority, education and training providers, businesses and communities are coming together to ensure that the right information, support and services are in place to provide access to new jobs at all levels in the zone.” Inclusivity also features high on the agenda in the city
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BRISTOL IS EDUCATING schools, thanks to the Bristol One curriculum, which forms part of the education arm of the Mayor’s Commission on Race Equality. Aisha Thomas is assistant principal at City Academy, a secondary school with 87% of students from Black and Ethnic Minority communities and is a leading advocate for inclusivity in education. By joining forces with primary schools, Dolphin Academy and St Barnabas CE, Thomas has been instrumental in developing the new curriculum that provides “more representative and equal” lessons on black history and culture. “The theme allows students to recognise the contribution of black history while finding a connection with their community and understanding of the world,” she says. “We are truly embedding this knowledge in to the entire curriculum. This is our knowledge, our history, we all need to know it.” Thomas has also presented a BBC Inside Out West documentary examining the lack of black teachers in Bristol. Together with Jon Angell, principal at City Academy and the Cabot Learning Federation, Johnson is exploring ways to increase the number of black teachers, which stands at 1.9%, and to inspire black students to enter the profession. Inclusivity tops the agenda at many educational institutions, notably at The City of Bristol College which has centres across Bristol and into south Gloucestershire. It offers more than 1,000 courses available from entry to degree level, not just for school leavers but also for adult learners. More niche providers of adult learning include Bristol Folk House and St Pauls Learning Centre, a community hub enabling learning, training and development opportunities for local people. “Our space provides organisations access to the local community while providing the community with a local accessible gateway into the wider world of learning,” says centre manager, Red Cottam.
THIS IS OUR KNOWLEDGE, OUR HISTORY, WE ALL NEED TO KNOW IT
Pictured from top a vision of the new campus, and above, assistant principal at City Academy Aisha Thomas
She adds: “As well as traditional adult education courses like woodwork and upholstery, there are also photography dark rooms run by a Community Interest Company. The Real Photography Company, which offers custom courses for local organisations with specific target groups like the over 50s, homeless people or recovering addicts. We also have a supplementary school based here to boost attainment at SATS and GCSE level – the Somalian community is making very good use of the centre and we have hundreds of children coming through the building every week.” From cutting edge tech to community learning, when it comes to education, Bristol is top of the class. b
MADE FOR THE CITY
MADE FOR THE CIT Y
An impressive waterfront development in the heart of the city. Following BT’s acquisition of Building A, Buildings B & C offer a range of unique spaces. Public realm is at the heart of Assembly, with spectacular new waterfront spaces for all to enjoy. Terraces and balconies capture the amazing views and extensive amenities make staff wellbeing the focus of this sustainable development. A S S E M B LY B R I S TO L . C O M
L E T TO BT
2 7, 0 0 0 S Q F T
92,000 SQ FT
ALL ENQUIRIES
A DEVELOPMENT BY
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BRISTOL IS CREATIVE
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As Channel 4 joins the city’s thriving creative ecosystem, Emma Pritchard explores the future of what is sure to be a market-leading sector
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or the creative industries, Bristol has long been a magnet. From the Oscar-winning team at Aardman to the BBC crew behind Sir David Attenborough’s globally-admired documentaries, the city has consistently attracted the very brightest and the best. The latest entertainment giant to join this hothouse of creative comradeship is Channel 4, which recently opened the doors to its state-of-the-art media hub in the historic Fermentation Buildings at Finzels Reach. “We are very much looking forward to seeing the space supporting the city’s burgeoning creative systems,” says Peter Walford, director of Cubex, Finzel Reach’s developer. ‘Disruptive’ design studio Outlaw is a neighbour as is Bafta award-winning digital production company BDH, already marking the area out as a future media melting pot. “Bristol has been a hotbed of creativity and culture for decades,” says Jon Finch, head of Culture and Creative Industries, Bristol Culture. “It has all the ingredients a successful ecosystem needs to thrive – from a broad range of creative companies and organisations to a productive talent pipeline. There are also higher education institutions with an interest in these fields, as well as a significant cultural sector which offers inspiration through exciting museums, theatres and arts centres. But, perhaps most importantly, Bristol provides an excellent environment in which such companies can exist and be radical.” Finch is perhaps referring to local success story Silas Adekunle, the mastermind behind the world’s first intelligent gaming robot, an invention, which not only earned him a partnership with Apple and a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe list, but also saw him charged as a Bristol 2020 City
Ambassador. His role? To promote the city on a global scale as the place to be for creatives. It shouldn’t be too tough a task thanks to organisations such as Creative England that offers bespoke investments, loans and mentoring for businesses in the field, and regional growth programmes, including Be More Bristol, designed to celebrate the city’s ethos of originality, cross-sector collaboration and innovation. One of the major weapons in Bristol’s creative ecosystem armoury comes not just from the support it receives from those in the field but also from big players in other areas who are eager to think outside the box. “Investment from the city’s two universities, which provide a large supply of creative graduates keen to remain in the city, as well as those from other anchor institutions, has been significant in the success of Bristol,” says Finch.
BRISTOL HAS BEEN A HOTBED OF CREATIVITY FOR DECADES The City Council too has played its part offering financial boosts to burgeoning businesses such as Bottle Yard Studios – the largest dedicated film and TV studio facility in the South West – which is looking to expand its Whitchurch Lane base. “We see councils across the country trying to mimic this model in their own towns,” adds Finch. “The council also played a key role in the successful bid to secure a C4 Creative Hub in the city, emphasising Bristol’s strengths in terms of diversity, connectivity and employer wellbeing. Its proximity
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AMONG FRIENDS
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BRISTOL IS CREATIVE to London, its position as one of the UK’s foremost Smart Cities and its reputation as a hub of ingenuity and innovation also played their part in the successful bid. “The city has come a long way in recent years,” says Finch. “Channel 4 indicated that one of the key reasons for choosing Bristol was to work with the city on its commitment to utilise its diversity to broaden the talent pipeline. The move is also likely to catalyse a further growth in the creative industries, particularly in the screen sector. And we shouldn’t forget that we already house a major base for another public service broadcaster in the BBC.” Based in Whiteladies Road since 1934, BBC Bristol produces many of the corporation’s flagship shows, such as Springwatch, Antiques Roadshow, and the multi-award winning Blue Planet – the second series of which sparked a global call to action after featuring footage of plastic-choked oceans.
Pictured from top Mayor Marvin Rees and C4 CEO Alex Mahon at the broadcaster’s Creative Hub launch, above a scene from The Bottle Yard’s recent hit The Trial of Christine Keeler, and C4’s Creative Hub in action
BRISTOL IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE ACTION. WE MAKE CONTENT FOR EVERY SINGLE MAJOR PLATFORM “The main growth in the broadcast sector in the past decade has been fuelled by the rise of the SVODs [Subscription Video on Demand] and streaming on demand,” explains broadcaster and journalist Lynn Barlow, who is also assistant vice-chancellor creative and cultural industries at UWE (The University of the West of England). “There is a public sector will to include more voices from around the UK, and Bristol is at the centre of the action. Our production companies make content for every single major platform in the world, including Amazon, Apple and Netflix. Around half of the world’s natural history programming comes from the area.” Not a city to rest on its laurels, Bristol is already looking at ways to build on its considerable success. According to Finch, Mayor Marvin Rees’ One City Plan will: “Have a strong representation of creativity and culture in 2020, evidencing the critical role the sector will play in the future of Bristol.” And work is gathering apace to provide a local pool of candidates to support the burgeoning demand. A case in point
is Creative Workforce for the Future, the West of England Combined Authority talent programme, designed to offer an entry route for young people interested in working in the broadcast sector. It currently involves six arts organisations and 40 production companies. As Barlow says: “I think everyone now recognises that a strong creative and cultural sector has benefits for the whole region. The more we work together, the more we will grow.”b
Firm foundations for the future We are building homes and creating great places to live. LiveWest is the largest housing organisation in the South West with over 36,000 high-quality homes throughout the region. We have exciting plans to inject £2billion into the local economy over the next 10 years by building new homes that people love to live in and sustaining 7,000 jobs in the construction supply chain. We are proud to be part of Bristol’s vibrant communities and exciting future.
LiveWest.co.uk
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BRISTOL IS INNOVATION
THE LIFE SCIENTIFIC Joe Walsh reports on the city’s burgeoning life sciences sector
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WE’RE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS, GETTING KIDS INTERESTED, DRIVING COMMUNITY INCLUSION EBI says it has two key objectives to: “deliver longterm growth that is inclusive and clean” and to “accelerate economic growth by strengthening productivity to ensure the region creates high-quality, well-paid jobs” for residents. The region is well on its way to achieving this goal. A study published by EBI found that 1,288 jobs were advertised in the life sciences sector during 2018; the demand in Bristol, equalling that across the whole of the rest of the UK. “In practical terms, life sciences contribute to the economy both in terms of jobs created and taxes paid,” says Bristol City councillor Craig Cheney. “It also means we are going to retain a lot more of our graduates. Previously, many in the life science sector studied here and then went off to Cambridge, London and elsewhere but now they have the chance to stay in the city. It is very important that those skills and knowledge are retained in the city.” But it is not just in the job market and academic sphere
BRISTOL IS INNOVATION
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cience and technology are areas in which cities want to excel. Not only do these sectors create a robust economy and a hothouse of highly-skilled workers and educators, but they also shout progress and innovation. Bristol’s position as a beacon of scientific advancement is second to none: in the fields of AI, robotics and fintech the area leads the way. It is has been designated a Science City and was recently named the UK’s ‘smartest’ city, thanks to its commitment to a wealth of new technologies. While these futuristic developments continue to grab the headlines, Bristol City Council has been working hard to substantiate the area’s position as a life sciences centre too, shining a light on the positive role the sector has to play in the local economy and supporting its growth. Last year the sector was given a major boost following a collaboration between the University of Bristol’s health research centre, the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (EBI) and research consortium GW4, which sought to grow recognition for the life sciences across the West of England. This in turn has led to EBI forming partnerships with such bodies as Invest Bristol and Bath, Bristol Health Partners and UWE (The University of the West of England), in order to have a greater impact on strategy and funding decisions made across the region as a whole.
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BRISTOL IS INNOVATION Clockwise from above left scientists hard at work; pupils get hands on as part in Unit DX’s outreach programme.
that the city’s emphasis on life sciences can reap benefits. Bristol City Council is also keen for the sector to have a wider role in driving economic inclusion across Bristol. This is primarily achieved through raising awareness of the sciences and encouraging youth involvement. “People weren’t aware of life sciences but now there is definitely an increased presence in the city. We’re working with schools and getting kids interested in science, driving community inclusion,” adds Cheney. One organisation that is at the forefront when it comes to inspiration is Unit DX, a science startup and deep-tech incubator. Founded in 2017, Unit DX provides facilities, as well as investment and mentoring services, for more than 30 innovative science and engineering companies in Bristol. The incubator has an education outreach programme in which students from local primary schools participate in Unit DX has already seen its original clients “scale-up” and workshops in the Unit DX laboratories. The hope is that a start having real world impact. One of its first members, Ziylo passion for the subject can be fired from a young age. (co-founded by Dr Harry Destecroix, while finishing his PhD Unit DX’s core offer is to facilitate scientific startups. at the University of Bristol), was bought out in 2018 by global Its central Bristol facility holds 35 businesses across sectors healthcare giant Novo Nordisk as part of the Denmark-based including biotechnology and synthetic biology, artificial company’s quest to develop a ‘smart insulin’. The deal, which intelligence, photonics and electronics, drones and robotics. is said to be worth around $800 million (£610 million), will see Between them, these companies have created more than 100 Ziylo’s technology deliver safer and more effective treatments jobs, attracting £28 million in investment in the region. for diabetes sufferers. “We have seen the sector grow in Bristol from essentially “The technologies that our members are working on nothing three years ago [when Unit DX was founded], to might offer solutions to big societal problems, from vaccines where we are today,” says Ashley that don’t need to be refrigerated, Brewer, centre director of Unit DX. to a ‘synthetic nose’ that can sniff Late last year the University of out disease using a combination of Bristol was awarded £1.5 million by protein engineering and machine KEY STATS* Research England to develop a life learning,” says Brewer. “We want sciences incubator with Unit DX, bT he mean salary of advertised to see Bristol continue to leverage as part of its University Enterprise jobs in the life sciences was its existing research strengths and Zone (UEZ). The University of Bristol £33,800 continue to develop it into companies will use the funds to build a second bT he sector employs 2,700 that can deliver real-world impact.” specialist incubator for life sciences bA cademic research base employs If Bristol is able to keep this start-ups and spin outs as Unit DX’s 1,560 people dedication to science, attract first facility is now full. b9 00 people at the University investment, further build on “The funding will help to grow of Bristol are employed in life governmental, university and Bristol’s life science sector by sciences private sector resources, then it providing companies with more can and no doubt will, play an *From EBI space and support, allowing them to increasingly significant role driving scale-up,” adds Brewer. the UK’s science industry. b
MODERN LIVING, SPACIOUS DESIGNS IN VIBRANT LOCATIONS Building hundreds of new homes across the South West at: Jessop Park, Hartcliffe The Parade, Bridgwater and Brue Farm, Highbridge www.keepmoat.com
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From Olympic athletes to exercise for the elderly, when it comes to sport, Bristol certainly is leading the pack. Hannah Gal reports
BRISTOL IS ACTIVE
AHEAD OF THE GAME
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hen in 2016 Claudia Fragapane waltzed her way to fourth place on hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, she was already one of Britain’s most successful gymnasts. Fresh from representing Team GB at the Rio Olympics that summer, Fragapane had earned her stripes winning four golds (she was the first woman to do so since 1930) at the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The Bristolian was named as BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year and was honoured by her home city with an open-top bus parade. While Fragapane has become something of a living legend in the city, she is actually just one of many Bristolians to have had success in international sporting arenas that span hockey, rugby, water polo and snooker. Hockey player and former Clifton College pupil Lily Owsley MBE has played for England 78 times and for Great Britain 41 times. She won Olympic gold as part of Team GB in the Rio Games of 2016 and earned a silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Fellow Bristolian, synchronised swimmer Katie Dawkins, represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, while Whitchurch-born snooker star Judd Trump achieved the highest accolade in his sport last year after being crowned World Champion. Alongside these are boxer Lee Haskins, England goalkeeper Jack Butland, Premier League footballer Bobby Reid (Fulham), judoka Sally Conway (another Olympic medalist), golfer Chris Wood, strongman Ryan England, rugby union prop Ellis Genge and water polo player Ciaran James, who competed for team GB at the 2012 Summer Olympics. And while these names have earned their place in national sporting history, their stories all began in Bristol. The city is home to a multitude of vibrant sports clubs
where young talent is nurtured. Fragapane now coaches at Bristol Hawks, the Roman Road club where her gymnastics journey began at the tender age of six. Located in Easton, the world-class facility occupies two floors, spanning more than 900sq m filled with specialist equipment. The dedicated Bristol Hawks coaching team has been producing internationally competitive gymnasts for more than 40 years. Its training team boasts former Great Britain champion James May and Fragapane’s own coach Helen Potter, who also competed internationally for the GB squad. “Bristol Hawks is extremely proud to be a part of Bristol’s rich sporting heritage,” says Helen Potter, now coaching team director. “Gymnastics is the ultimate foundation sport, and in this day and age, it is vitally important for people to lead a more active lifestyle.” The City of Bristol Gymnastics Centre in Hartcliffe adds to the depth of gymnastic talent and opportunity in the city. It is run by international coach and Olympic adjudicator Carol Malone, offering classes for all ages and abilities. Acrobatic achievement aside, Bristol is also home to two football teams – Bristol City FC, Bristol Rovers FC – Gloucestershire Cricket Club, Bristol Bears Rugby and The Flyers, a professional basketball club competing in the British Basketball League (BBL).
A CITY THAT PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY WILL MEAN OUR CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO THRIVE Partnered with South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, the Flyers play their regularly-sold-out home games at the SGS – a 700-seat College Arena in Stoke Gifford. In reference to the sport’s growing popularity, all BBL games are also broadcast live via the club’s YouTube channel. The healthy crowd numbers demonstrate Bristol residents’ appetite for the game which has led the team to seek out a larger facility. There are already plans for a move to a 4,000 capacity, purpose-built venue located next to Ashton Gate Stadium, which will provide a permanent base for the successful team. An official planning application for the £100-million development has been submitted to Bristol City Council, and if granted, work on the future Sports and Convention Centre could start this year. Speaking of the proposed development, Ashton Gate chairman Martin Griffiths said: “It has been more than two years in the planning to ensure that Phase II of Ashton Gate’s redevelopment into a city quarter focused on sport and entertainment was indeed viable, sustainable and most importantly achievable. “The new Sports and Convention Centre will also provide much-needed space for the growth of a broad range of community-based sports, run by our group of charities based at Ashton Gate.” Bristol City Council’s drive to improve physical and mental wellbeing in the city and reduce health inequality has been stepped up thanks to its new five-year Sport and Physical Activity Strategy aimed at encouraging citizens to include more sport and physical activity in their daily lives.
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Building on Bristol’s role as a host city for 2019’s Cricket World Cup and its tenure as European City of Sport in 2017, the strategy highlights the benefits of competitive sport by promoting major events and opportunities for talented athletes. It also aims to increase the use of parks and open spaces as ways of boosting physical activity. Launching the strategy Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “A city that promotes and supports sport and physical activity will mean our citizens are able to thrive. We want all of Bristol to be given the opportunity and encouragement to enjoy and build more into their lives, whatever the circumstances.” Alongside the clubs and team sports on offer, Bristol also boasts increasing numbers of cyclists and pedestrians, and is already the most active of the country’s Core Cities. The Sport and Physical Activity scheme aims to see at least 65% of people in all parts of the city achieving the recommended amount of physical exercise by 2030. The city’s commitment to the health and wellbeing agenda, was a major factor for international sporting app creator Strava when it began its search for a new base. “We’re all passionate about leading balanced lives,” says Strava UK manager Gareth Mills. “Being able to easily access the Mendips, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and
Pictured clockwise from top a young gymnast in full flight; a youth community sports initiative and a rugby union player from Bristol Bears.
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BRISTOL IS ACTIVE South Wales really suits our team – we are all committed runners and cyclists. Bristol’s attitude to wellness, its strong tech presence, access to talent via the city’s universities and efficient links to London were key drivers too.” Bristol City Council is working hard to stir residents out of their sedentary lifestyles, and a wide variety of activities are available via the Bristol Active City website. The platform brings together a swathe of affordable indoor and outdoor activities, making it easier for residents of all ages and abilities to get involved and hopefully foster a new-found passion for physical fitness. As gymnastic coach Helen Potter says: “Schemes such as Bristol Active City that encourage participation can lead to a lifelong love of sporting activity, enhancing the health and wellbeing of all Bristolians.” Alongside this drive are more targeted offers, such as female-only gyms and the Tackling Inactivity project which aims to combat not only inactivity but isolation (as suffered by many in the elderly community) by encouraging people to come together for sport or fitness. The project supports people who do less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week with group exercise being a prime opportunity to socialise. Ben Breeze is chief community officer at Bristol Sport Foundation – an organisation that aims to co-ordinate the delivery of community sport in the city and its surrounding areas. Through activity, the foundation seeks to “break down barriers and tackle health and social inequalities”. The foundation has recently launched a campaign to reach out to those in more difficult to reach areas, dubbed #ChangingLivesThroughSport. Breeze says: “The campaign was set up to fund some of the life-changing work delivered by the charities associated with
Pictured clockwise from top Bristol-based basketball team The Flyers in action; Strava’s new city-based offices.
sport clubs in Bristol. Our charities use sport to engage and inspire some of the most disadvantaged communities in the City of Bristol and across the West of England. Sport has the power to change lives and to help Bristolians to be active, healthy and happy.” b
Redcliff Quarter, Bristol
Providing great homes in Bristol As one of the largest landlords across southern England, A2Dominion manages 850 homes in Bristol and are continuing to invest in the city. Our new developments include Redcliff Quarter, near Bristol Temple Meads, and Malago Road in Bedminster, which will deliver a further 700 homes. We are continuing to look for new land and joint venture partnership opportunities in and around Bristol. To discuss any development opportunities, please contact Simon Potts on simon.potts@a2dominion.co.uk or Jim Smith on jim.smith@a2dominion.co.uk. a2dominiongroup.co.uk
We know Bristol Bristol is special. It has a joie de vivre that is wonderfully infectious and a unique way of making things happen. Arup has been at the heart of Bristol for almost 45 years. Our planners, placemakers, economists and engineers work collaboratively with clients and communities to deliver real value for this growing city with big dreams.
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As the One City Plan enters its second year, Jane Thynne looks at the key aims and opportunities for the Bristol Economy Board
BRISTOL IS PROGRESS
LET’S GO TO WORK
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aunched in January 2019 by Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, the One City Plan laid down a routemap of where Bristol wants to be in 2050. The groundbreaking document provided a pioneering vision of cooperation between the city, its stakeholders and communities offering them the chance to collaborate as agents of change, creating a city that is “fair, healthy and sustainable”. The innovative plan looks at a range of key issues which all contribute to Bristol’s future as a city of “hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success”. The themes are: economy; connectivity; environment; health and wellbeing; learning and skills; and homes and communities. Each theme has its own board to drive progress – the Economy Board focuses on the economy of the city becoming increasingly fair and inclusive, and productive. As well as reflecting Bristol’s vision, it mirrors economic thinking globally, notably the United Nation’s 8th Goal for Sustainable Development, which links economic growth with decent employment, worldwide. During its initial year of collaborative working, the One City Plan has been developed, initiatives launched and progress made. In January 2020 more than 250 people from across Bristol came together to celebrate achievements in the city, consider new challenges and forge further partnerships. “The One City Plan acts as a magnet for resources,” says Edward Rowberry, who has been seconded from Bristol & Bath Regional Capital to head up the City Office alongside Andrea Dell. “The City Funds, which is a £10 million pot to bring local businesses, communities, funders and the public sector round the same table to share resources, is a prime example. It is acting as a catalyst for other funding, creating a snowball effect in investment. “The plan is also unifying people. There are a lot of people in Bristol who want to do the right thing. There is a
real willingness by employees to get involved and make stuff happen. That then gains traction with employers. If they want to attract the brightest and the best, they need to engage with civic society and get involved.” Andrea Dell says the role of the City Office on the whole is very much that of an enabler: “We are about facilitating and brokering so Bristol can move forward towards our ambitious goals.” In just 12 months, the area has already reaped the benefits of this growing civic impetus across a range of issues that affect both an individual’s employment prospects and the potential economic productivity of Bristol. This includes equality for girls in relation to sanitary products and costs, through affordable childcare for parents, and cost-related remuneration for employees.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN BRISTOL WHO WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING One of the most successful campaigns launched at 2019’s City Gathering and reviewed this year is Period Friendly Bristol. The lack of access to affordable sanitary products for girls of school age due to the costs of these products reduces girls’ engagement in education, impacts on their school attendance and limits exam success and future job potential. Local employers who were at the gathering got on board with the project, set up a charity and launched the distribution of free sanitary products to women and girls in need, as well as a campaign to raise awareness of period poverty. There is now a suggestion that the scheme will be rolled out nationally. Affordable childcare has also been an area in which the Economy Board has engaged with other groups, in this case Bristol University, to look at models of childcare including cross-subsidy and intergenerational models. “These examples show the practical value of the Economy Board,” says Rowberry, “and it emphasises that you get resources if you have a strategic context pulling people in to get involved.” At this year’s January City Gathering, the Economy Board pledged to support the goals of making Bristol a ‘Real Living Wage’ city (whereby people’s pay reflects the actual cost of living); the Ways to Work Network’s sustainable and inclusive plan to help employees transition from high carbon sectors to greener industries; and Bristol’s global profile through knowledge exchange and digital connectivity. During the event, local landlord Pete Gibbs talked about the value of paying the Real Living Wage to his staff at The Volunteer Tavern in New Street. He explained that by paying his team a Living Wage, they feel valued and enjoy working there. He explained that these factors have had direct benefits on the bottom line – reducing staff costs through high retention of employees, as well as raising the reputation of the public house among staff and visitors. Attendees also heard from Rob Logan, head of human resources at the University of Bristol, who said that while the institution is at the other end of the scale, employing 7,000 staff, it nevertheless remains committed to the ideals of the Real Living Wage. “Not only does a proper wage benefit the individual, but
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WE HAVE GOT A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF DIGITAL BUSINESS. NOW IS OUR CHANCE TO LEAD THE WAY
Pictured from top Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and delegates at the recent City Gathering; left landlord Pete Gibbs.
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BRISTOL IS PROGRESS Pictured clockwise from top city living and left Bristol University’s Rob Logan.
businesses too will grow. If people have more money in their pocket they will hopefully spend more in the local area. There are great economic benefits to it,” says Edward Rowberry. Rowberry is, however, aware that some small companies may find paying a Living Wage more difficult. He says: “We recognise it will be harder for low margin businesses, but we want them to come to us and we can have a conversation. We are looking at the art of the possible.” One of the major drivers behind the Economy Board’s focus was the announcement by Bristol City Council in mid2019 that the city would aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. “The estimated cost of that goal is around £9 billion,” says Rowberry. “Industries will change. We will need to retrain workers in the new technologies, and new forms of transport as we move away from traditional engines to electric vehicles. This is investment which will benefit the city and help to tackle the global climate challenges.” Dell adds: “It’s imperative that we generate and protect
jobs for local people. We are talking about the creation of around 75,000 jobs but we must make sure that local people have good opportunities to compete in the workplace. “That means we have to start early – in schools and colleges. Now is the time to look at the skills we need – to grow the knowledge. What courses do we need? How can we create valuable apprenticeship programmes? We need our partners to help enable us to achieve this.” And while the city has much do to locally, it remains determined to forge ahead with its plans to achieve a place on the world stage. “Bristol has a global reputation not just for business but also for innovation, for knowledge,” says Dell. “We need to sustain our place in the world while reducing our carbon footprint. Our pedigree as European Green Capital, as well as being the UK equivalent of Silicon Valley, means that we have actually got a real opportunity to be at the forefront of digital business. Now is our chance to really lead the way.” b
We’re
building homes for Bristol We’re building nearly 300 new homes in Bristol with around 500 planned . . . and we want to build more places people want to live. Bristol Waterside We built 123 attractive new homes at Wapping Wharf and Unity Street, a central part of Bristol’s waterside.
Harry Stoke We’re investing £229m to build 920 new homes at Harry Stoke in our latest joint venture with Crest Nicholson.
Partnership working Working with partners, Galliford Try, Bristol City Council, and Homes England, we’re regenerating the former hospital at Blackberry Hill, Fishponds, into 100 new homes.
We’re Sovereign, investing more in Bristol’s homes and communities. Want to work with us?
buildwithus@sovereign.org.uk Sovereign Housing Association is charitable
DEV-31014 Feb20inh
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF BRISTOL As a national construction contractor with over 160 years’ experience in the built environment, we are proud of our history in Bristol, positively contributing to the fabric of this vibrant city. We have been at the heart of some of Bristol’s most prestigious developments and are committed to delivering great products and customer experience, that in turn creates great spaces for our communities.
Interested in hearing more about our role in the regeneration of Bristol and the South West? CONTACT US bristolconstruction@ willmottdixon.co.uk 0117 934 9214
Whether it’s tight urban areas, complex technical specifications or leading environmental performance, our specialist teams have a long track-record of reimagining the future of inner city and town spaces.
Currently on site at Colston Hall: Breathing new life into Bristol’s iconic music venue
Ashton Rise: 133 new homes in South Bristol
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Hawkins & George: Bristol’s first Build to Rent Scheme
Willmott-Dixon
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BRISTOL IS BUILDING
A GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND Hannah Gal reports on the latest developments in eco-friendly construction
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BRISTOL IS BUILDING
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n its recent housing proposals, the British Government outlined plans to change building regulations in order to reduce the carbon footprint of homes built after 2025. The scheme, dubbed ‘Future Homes Standard’, calls for an end to fossil fuel heating systems in new-builds, replacing them with environmentally-friendly options such as solar panels and heat pumps. It will come as no surprise to learn that Bristol City Council has already adopted many of these practices and is also leading the way when it comes to finding greener, cleaner technologies that benefit not only the build process but renovation and conservation works too. “Bristol is a progressive and innovative city – a leader in the search for housing and energy solutions,” says Bristol Housing Festival project director Jez Sweetland, who has championed the use of modern build technologies and modular homes across the city. “Its biggest challenge is older stock – 90% of the housing is already built.” That is where organisations such as Futureproof come in. Operating across the West of England, the government-backed initiative provides builders and individual consumers with advice spanning the entire building process. Managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy and construction professional training body The Green Register, Futureproof also advises homeowners on energy-saving household improvements and helps them source professionals bearing eco-friendly credentials. Alongside this is its education programme which teaches contractors about the key aspects of ecologically sound building and green retrofit. “Bristol has a deserved reputation as a progressive green city,” says director Malcolm McMahon who came to Futureproof from Greenheart, the Bristol-based, sustainable construction and design company he founded in 2002. Back then, Greenheart was the only Bristol firm specialising in eco-building – today the city boasts more than 15 green construction businesses, including the Bristol Sustainable Building Company and Earthwise Construction. Operators that, like Greenheart, practise ecological building in their own projects while sharing their knowledge across the trade. According to McMahon: “There has been a slow, steady
Above Bristol has led by example with its innovative mixed-occupancy modular project in Alexandra Road.
increase in the green building sector over the past few years, along with an increase in awareness of sustainability both from the general public and businesses.” So committed to the cause are Earthwise and Greenheart, that they have both thrown their weight behind the Futureproof associate builder training course which aims to, “increase the number of builders skilled in sustainable construction to meet a growing demand from homeowners”. Builders are paid to attend the sessions which are run by members of The Green Register and cover such topics as solid wall insulation and sustainable water use. One factor that may be jeopardising the wholesale move into greener home improvements is the transient nature of the property market. According to Christoph Przybysz, founder of Recreate Construction, homeowners are often unwilling to embrace greener techniques, fearing they may be more expensive and not worth the effort if they do not intend to live in the house for more than five years. “The majority of clients ask for energy efficient measures but only a few actually choose so-called green options due to higher prices, availability and or aesthetics of the sustainable materials,” Przybysz explains. “Homeowners see no advantage in investing in long-term payback solutions such as insulation, ventilation or healthier products that will only benefit future owners.” In terms of social housing, Bristol City Council is working hard to live up to its reputation as an eco-innovator. All developments are built with a fabric first approach. “Bristol is a leading energy city and was the first to declare a climate emergency in the UK,” says Paul Smith, Bristol City Council’s cabinet lead for housing. “We have also improved energy efficiency across our 28,500 social homes in recent years.” Bristol City Council has now agreed its first “commercial connection” to the Bristol Heat Network – the council’s own network of pipes – providing low-carbon heat to businesses and homes in the city, serving 375 homes in the new Castle Park View housing development in a bid to provide low-carbon and affordable heat for residents once the building is completed in 2022. There is sustainable innovation in the infrastructure around new housing developments too. In south Bristol, property services company Willmott Dixon has incorporated non-recyclable plastic collected from the Ashton Rise development in the asphalt for its new roads. Replacing carbon-intensive bitumen usually used in asphalt with nonrecyclable waste will stop the equivalent of 150,000 single-use plastic bags going into landfill, saving 1.6 tonnes of carbon entering the atmosphere. And while work continues apace to introduce greener themes into both construction and restoration, it is worth remembering that Bristol is already home to a number of eco-friendly projects such as Bridge Farm, which has been designated as the new project for the Ashley Vale Action Group – a collection of self-builder residents who came together to create a “community-led, environmentally sustainable development” known as The Yard. Alongside this is Water Lilies, a pioneering eco self-build community project situated near 650 acres of Blaise Castle parkland and Kings Weston Estate. Designed by Bright Green Futures in collaboration with Marshall and Kendon Architects
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BRISTOL IS BUILDING
WHAT IS PASSIVE HOUSE?
Above the area is embracing more eco-friendly homes.
and individual self and custom builders, the development won the 2019 Green Initiative Award at the Bristol Property Awards. The project, made up of 33 homes plus a community hub, was also commended by Bristol Urban Design Forum for its “innovative approach to community building and potential to empower” residents. “There is no doubt we are facing a national housing crisis,” says Jez Sweetland but he remains convinced that by working with multiple stakeholders and encouraging developers to engage with modern methods of construction and innovation, Bristol is on the way to its goal of “creating sustainable and resilient communities”. b
The term Passive House or ‘passivhause’ refers to a rigorous building standard that is “truly energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and ecological at the same time”.1 It is seen by many in the built environment as the pinnacle of sustainable design and build, utilising the skills not only of Passive Housetrained constructors but also architects, engineers, and interior specialists. According to the Passivhaus Trust, there are numerous buildings in Bristol and its surrounds which have met the sought-after, internationallyrecognised standard. These include: Witch Hazel Road where four timber-framed flats were constructed for Solon Housing Association in the Hartcliffe area of the city; The Bristol Passivhaus Plus in Nailsea, west of Bristol; and the Picture House Court housing development on North Street, Bedminster, where 12 houses and 10 apartments are to be built, along with four additional townhouses. 1
Campbell Reith, consulting engineers; campbellreith.com
Bristol 2020
Delivering and managing over 450,000 sq ft of office space across 4 buildings.
For more information Paul Richardson paul.richardson@ceg.co.uk
James McWilliams james.mcwilliams@ceg.co.uk
Richard Brooks richard.brooks@ceg.co.uk
EQ, 111 Victoria Street
1000 Aztec West
The Crescent Centre The Quorum
Or visit ceg.co.uk
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BRISTOL IS PROJECTS
PROJECTS Location of developments in Bristol
AVONMOUTH Port of Bristol
Filton Airfield
St Modwen Park Access 18
Free Ports WESTBURY ON TRYM
ST WERBURGH’S University of Bristol CLIFTON Clifton Suspension Bridge HOTWELLS Western Harbour
ST PAUL’S Frome Gateway
Finzels Reach Wapping Wharf
Assembly Bristol Soapworks Temple Meads
Redcliffe and Temple BID
BRISLINGTON
BISHOPSWORTH
The Bottle Yard Studios
BRISTOL CITY AREA
→ Bristol Aiport
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FINZELS REACH – AVON FIRE & RESCUE
Bristol developer Cubex is starting construction work on the next phase of Finzels Reach in Bristol city centre. Demolition work (which has been contracted to Bedminster-based family firm Wring Group) is now under way at the site to remove the existing vacant buildings that previously housed Avon Fire & Rescue headquarters and to prepare the ground for construction. Created out of a derelict, brownfield site on Bristol’s harbourside, Finzels Reach is a thriving new neighbourhood that is already home to a raft of residents. It has also attracted a range of industries and now provides workspace for such companies as Historic England, Channel 4, Simmons & Simmons, Barclays and Bafta-winning media company BDH. The area is also a fast-emerging social hotspot, with a host of independent bars, restaurants and leisure operators choosing the emerging city quarter for their new premises. The latest consent provides for 300 homes, sustainable offices to support Bristol’s growing economy and
improvements totalling £2.4 million to the surrounding area. These include landscaping, traffic management, pedestrian and cycle routes, to aid wellbeing and community inclusion. Excavation work will also be starting next year to create the basement level for the Halo office building,
accommodating space for cycle/car parking, deliveries, electric car and bike charging points, showers and changing rooms. Work on the superstructure will then follow, with construction set to complete at the end of 2021. The Halo building (which is being built speculatively), will provide space
WAPPING WHARF
Over a quarter of the new homes in the second phase of development at Wapping Wharf have been sold (subject to contract) within six months of being launched to market. Forty-two of the 163 one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the harbourside development have been bought ‘off-plan’ ahead of completion with most buyers either currently living or working in the city. Pauline Sangster, senior residential sales and marketing manager at Wapping Wharf Living (the residential arm of the project), said: “We are
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absolutely thrilled with the response we’ve had to the new homes, especially so far in advance of them being completed. People are buying here partly due to the design but also because they already know and love Wapping Wharf.” In keeping with the historic dockside location and the phase one design, the new development has the same industrial wharf-like character. Many apartments have balconies overlooking the new street scenes or internal garden courtyards. The restored early 19th-century, Grade II-listed Gaol Gate is set to become the Wharf’s impressive new
BRISTOL IS PROJECTS
for around 1,100 staff. It is designed to set new standards of sustainability, wellbeing and digital connectivity for offices in Bristol. Gavin Bridge, executive director at Cubex, said: “We have been working closely with Bristol City Council to tie up the last few details on the Section 106. As part of our agreement we will be putting in protected cycle lanes, planting trees, widening pavements, and installing a new zebra crossing on Counterslip near to St Philip’s Bridge. We will also be contributing more than £1 million to fund further improvements across the local area and I hope much of this will be spent in Castle Park.” He continued: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to get planning consent within 13 months of buying the site and are starting construction work as soon as this agreement has been signed, demonstrating our commitment to regeneration in Bristol.” By the end of this year, around 2,500 people will live or work at Finzels Reach. The plans for phase two will increase that figure to 3,300 people, with an investment value of £400 million in total.
BRISTOL FREE PORT
The Bristol Port Company has welcomed the concept of a Free Port – zones designated by the government as areas with little to no tax in order to encourage economic activity – for the city, acknowledging its potential to boost investment opportunities. UK Port operators currently invest £600 million of private capital per year and provide more than 100,000 high value jobs. Bristol Port alone directly employs 568 staff and supports 9,000 jobs locally and 19,000 jobs nationally. The Free Port initiative recognises the role ports and the maritime sector can play and has the potential to increase further the number of jobs and boost prosperity in the South West region. According to the Bristol Port Company, Free Ports are a potentially transformational opportunity for locations with strong local support and are one of a range of measures that would improve productivity and trade in and around the UK’s ports, adding value to the UK and local economies. Bristol Port Company has said it will: “Work closely with government, the local authorities, stakeholders and our neighbours to explore how Free Port status may work in our area. However, it should be recognised that there will be a greater requirement for suitable land which will necessitate renewed dialogue and co-operation with the relevant planning authorities.”
public entrance. Housed in two buildings – Abel Yard and Hope Quay – with five and six floors respectively, the development has been designed by architects Alec French, the homes team behind phase one. Residential marketing is by agents Savills and Atwell Martin. Wapping Wharf Living is being developed by Umberslade and Muse Developments in a joint venture. It has secured £23.4 milion funding towards phase two from Homes England’s Home Building Fund, which provides loans to help unlock or accelerate the delivery of residential and mixed-use housing developments.
The aim across the Wapping Wharf development is to create a mixed community of people from different walks of life who are at different stages of their lives. The properties are being made available on a range of tenures, including open market sales and rent, shared ownership, affordable rent and social rent. In the current phase of construction, there are 256 homes in total, with 163 for open market sale, 49 shared ownership and 44 for private rent. Following this phase, a further 81 affordable homes will be built, including 41 shared ownership and 40 affordable rent. →
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REDCLIFFE & TEMPLE BID
Businesses in Bristol’s fast-growing commercial district around Redcliffe & Temple will be invited to vote for the area to become a Business Improvement District (BID) in September 2020. Proposed by Destination Bristol – which already operates the successful Broadmead and Bristol City Centre BIDs – approval of the scheme could see investment of up to £5 million over the next five years. Following the first stage of consultation, businesses have been sent a draft prospectus outlining how projects would be delivered should the initiative be successful. They include marketing the area and creating a brand identity; improving the public realm; ensuring the businesses have a strong and effective voice; aiming to make Redcliffe & Temple accessible to all; and ensuring the area is safe and free from anti-social issues. Initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of staff and jointly delivered corporate social responsibility projects were also raised in individual meetings. Redcliffe & Temple BID development manager Jo Hawkins, has been appointed to lead on this project. She will be assisted by Tom Swithinbank. “The businesses I have spoken to love this area, they have watched it change beyond recognition over the past decade and many are keen to work more closely with their neighbours to ensure that it improves further,” said Hawkins. “This is where a BID could make a real difference by connecting businesses and delivering projects proposed by them for the benefit of the whole area.” Jonathan Bower, a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, is part of the Redcliffe & Temple BID Advisory Group. He said: “Working together we can influence how the area grows, ensure that it is well-managed and that our staff benefit from collaborative projects focused on improving their working environment and wellbeing as well as contributing back to the community.” If successful at ballot, all eligible businesses, irrespective of how they voted, would have to pay 1.5% of their rateable value towards the BID. Those who contribute to a managed space would receive a 50% discount to account for the services that are already provided to them as part of their management charge. A further stage of consultation is now taking place before a final prospectus is produced later this spring.
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Bristol has been named as one of BT’s key UK locations. It will see the company grow its presence significantly in the city over the coming years, with investment in both people and facilities. As part of the move, BT announced it will be opening a state-of-the-art office in the city centre in 2021. The new building, Assembly Bristol, will be a key space and hub for BT’s increased presence in Bristol and the South West. Teams based in Bristol will be developing many of the new products and services coming from the telecoms giant. The 11-storey Bristol Assembly (which is being developed by AXA IM – Real Assets, with Bell Hammer retained as development manager) will sit within the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, one of the largest urban regeneration areas in the UK. The building will have shower and changing facilities and large roof terraces. It will also include electric car spaces and charging points, as well as more than 250 cycle spaces. While the company awaits the new premises, it has acquired a temporary building in the centre of Bristol. Staff will begin relocating this year. The Assembly Bristol workspaces will give the company the opportunity to bring several departments together, while providing ample space for the teams that are looking to grow. “It’s an exciting time for BT and our presence in Bristol,” said Paul Coles, BT Group regional director for the South West. “I am pleased the city has been chosen as it highlights our long-term commitment to the city and the wider area.” Bristol is also due to be one of the main hubs for the company’s new digital programme – Skills for Tomorrow – which will provide free training for 10 million people across the UK. As part of this, BT has already hosted a free event in the city with Google Digital Garage for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help build their digital skills. The pairing plans to hold events for schools, colleges, apprentices and community groups to ensure people of all ages and backgrounds have the right skills to succeed in the digital age. The announcements from BT support Bristol’s One City Plan, making sure the city is ‘well-connected with digital services’ and that everyone has the ‘skills they need to thrive and prosper in adulthood’. Building on Bristol’s reputation as a centre for world-leading university research, BT will also develop its existing partnerships with the city’s higher education institutions, specialising in technology and digital innovation. BT is one of the largest investors in research and development in the UK, spending around £500 million a year. →
BRISTOL IS PROJECTS
ASSEMBLY BRISTOL
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ST MODWEN PARK ACCESS 18 AVONMOUTH
St Modwen Park Access 18 Avonmouth is a prime development site, where more than 93,000sq m of accommodation has already been delivered. It is one of the largest industrial and logistics schemes in the South West – and is already home to 16 different businesses, including global courier and delivery service Hermes Parcelnet. Online grocer Ocado is the latest firm to arrive, after agreeing a 17-year lease on a 14,000sq m speculatively built unit. This will act as the company’s first ‘mini’ Customer Fulfilment Centre and is expected to create around 815 jobs. Access 18 is designed to be low carbon and future proof. Employee wellbeing is at the heart of the project, that will offer mature landscaping, cycle paths and footways linking to nearby residential areas. A bus service also runs next to the site, creating excellent public transport access for employees. It is expected that around 186,000sq m of space will eventually be delivered at the 212-acre site. An additional planning application is due to be submitted in 2020 for further industrial and logistics space, scaling approximately 74,000sq m.
SOAPWORKS
Developer First Base has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the former Gardiner Haskins site in Old Market, Bristol with a landmark mixeduse development. The proposals will include the restoration of the historic Soapworks building, to provide a mix of modern, flexible and creative commercial
and co-working spaces. In addition to delivering an apart-hotel and new homes, there will be a vibrant and independent food offer, celebrating the city’s recently awarded status as the ‘World’s Best Culinary Destination’. Following extensive consultation with the local community, businesses and Bristol City Council, First Base received a record number of responses to the proposals – more than 80% of
which were positive. The engagement strategy used digital channels to reach a broad section of the community, discussing topics such as sustainability, the evening economy and public realm. Key findings from the consultations highlighted that residents want the development to celebrate the heritage of the local area, provide green and open space for visitors and create a range of flexible workspaces and
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BRISTOL IS PROJECTS
THE BOTTLE YARD
Bristol’s flagship film and television facility The Bottle Yard Studios continues to go from strength to strength, attracting new titles from UK and international production companies. Many of these visiting productions, such as the recent BBC series The Trial of Christine Keeler which was filmed in the city (pictured), make use of the wide range of shooting locations available in Bristol, with support from Bristol Film Office which facilitates the industry. More than 20 permanent business tenants are now operating from the Studios’ creative hub, plus two fulltime professional diploma courses for 16-19 year olds. Amid this success, business planning is under way for the Studios’ proposed expansion into the Kelston Gears site at Hawkfield Business Park, located less than half a mile from the main Bottle Yard site. Bristol City Council secured the neighbouring land in late 2018 as part of its move to safeguard day-to-day Studio operations while building works continue at the Hengrove Park Regeneration Project. The expansion will bring significant employment, housing and community benefits to south Bristol. The construction of new studio space on currently redundant land at the Hawkfield site is also being considered, enabling the Studios to increase capacity and cater for further productions. Studio director Fiona Francombe said: “We’re very pleased to be working with Bristol City Council and Olsberg•SPI to develop the next stage of the project. Reflecting on how the Studios have grown over the past 10 years, I’m very proud of what’s been achieved by our small team. Bristol’s designation as a UNESCO City of Film and Channel 4’s arrival in the city are major milestones that show the momentum in the wider sector, so I’m confident that we’re in a strong position to be planning this next phase of development.”
facilities for independent businesses and freelancers. This feedback strongly informed the planning application, due to be submitted the first quarter of 2020. First Base has also worked with the Social Value Portal to calculate the social and economic value of the proposed development, which is set to generate hundreds of millions of pounds for the city that will benefit the local area for years to come.
→
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BRISTOL IS PROJECTS TEMPLE MEADS
Network Rail is embarking on the biggest investment in the Great Western railway since Brunel built it more than 175 years ago. Modernising the route will, says the rail company, “improve the experience of everyone who uses it and stimulate economic growth in the South West and beyond”. Key areas are: • Bristol East Station – improvements to a major junction just outside Bristol Temple Meads to boost reliability and comfort for passengers, as well as increasing flexibility and providing for the future expansion of the railway. This will involve a two-year programme of track, signalling and other works. It is due to be completed late-2021. • Bristol Temple Meads Station – work to repair the roof of the Victorian station begins this year. Due to complete in the first half of 2023, a false ceiling will be first installed as a safety screen. • Connectivity – during 2021, Network Rail will be installing a free station WiFi network at Bristol Temple
FILTON AIRFIELD
Construction is currently under way on the first homes at Brabazon, the new neighbourhood being built on the site of the former Filton Airfield.
Meads, offering passengers fast, free and reliable internet connectivity within the station area. The intention is to launch the new service in mid-2021. • Two sets of ticket gates were installed at Bristol Temple Meads in 2018, more than doubling capacity at the station. The additions have significantly improved the flow of passengers entering and exiting the station at peak travel times. They comprise eight new gates for entry and exit in Bonapartes Alley and six more at Queen Anne Gate. Both locations include two wideaisle gates for improved accessibility. • A new entrance is being planned for Bristol Temple Meads, to offer access to the planned University Enterprise Campus and the east of the city. The intention is to break through the end of the existing subway between the staircases to platforms 13 and 15 and install a new external entrance that will include a set of ticket gates. • Filton Bank Four Tracking – work will continue to reinforce the embankment alongside Bannerman Road in Easton and also the installation of trackside handrails in the Horfield area. The last of this work should be completed during June 2020.
Over the next 20 years the 380-acre site – which is being developed by YTL Developments – will be transformed into a new community with over 2,600 homes, 62 acres of employment space, new schools, a health centre and sports facilities all set around landscaped public squares and parkland. Brabazon will be a destination for innovative businesses, vibrant independent retail, creative cafés and restaurants, offering all the energy and edge of city living. It will also be connected to Bristol and beyond by redeveloped public transport links, including a new railway
station, with services to Temple Meads taking less than 15 minutes. There will be 278 homes within the first phase, which aims to set a new standard for quality development in the West of England. Designed by award-winning local architects Feilden Clegg Bradley, the range of one and two-bedroom apartments, and two, three and four-bedroom homes feature generous rooms, oversized windows and soaring double-height spaces in selected properties. The first homes at Brabazon will go on sale in autumn 2020, with occupancy expected in early 2021.
Jez Sweetland jez.sweetland@bristolhousingfestival.org.uk
Simon Bedford sbedford@deloitte.co.uk
lasalle.com/country/united-kingdom
Simon Power simon.power@mottmac.com
John Wright johnwright@stridetreglown.com
Christian Bocci christian.bocci@westonwilliamson.com
BRISTOL PARTNERSHIP Supporting Bristol City Council
Jonathan Bower jonathan.bower@wbd-uk.com
Shelley Cook shelley@3foxinternational.com
www.verve-properties.co.uk Regenerating Buildings. Building Communities.