Bristol Is #1

MAKING WAVES

Holding a steady course

HADLEY PROPERTY GROUP PROVIDING DESIGN-LED, SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS SINCE 2003

Through the cultivation of partnerships with local authorities, registered providers and key public sector stakeholders we are helping boroughs meet housing targets in the following areas:

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We specialise in the delivery of high-quality residential-led schemes and have more than 1500 homes in our planning and delivery pipeline.

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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.

Issue One

6 News

Updates on Bristol’s development.

10 City of Innovation

A thriving TV and film destination, dynamic workspaces and an enviable cultural heritage: Bristol is the city of innovation.

22 Independent retail scene

Gloucester Road and North Street are two much-loved shopping hubs.

27 Food and drink

Bristol is abuzz with marvellous markets, passionate producers and highly rated restaurants.

32 City of Water

The city’s historic harbourside is of huge strategic importance – and big plans are afoot for its future.

39 Projects

Major Bristol schemes in the pipeline.

49 Housing Councillor Paul Smith is ambitious about tackling city housing issues.

52 Environment

How the city aims to become ‘carbon neutral’ by 2050.

54 Sport Q&A: Bristol Is meets Steve Lansdown,

head of Bristol Sport.

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elcome to this issue of Bristol Is, a magazine highlighting many of the things that “Bristol is” and some of the opportunities to make it an even better place for everybody. The city is really picking up pace for delivering development, building on our strong and successful economy and our tradition of enterprise and innovation as a global trading hub. Our history and our success don’t allow us to stand still. Bristol is a creative and ever-changing city and this magazine will tell you something of the next steps in our journey.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF James Renoux-Wood NEWS AND DIGITAL EDITOR Natalie Vincent DESIGN Kate Harkus PRODUCTION MANAGER Christopher Hazeldine PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Mia Wicks BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Paul Gussar SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Shelley Cook PROJECT MANAGER Sue Mapara SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Simon Maxwell MANAGING DIRECTOR Toby Fox FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT: Chris Hackett & Kevin Slocombe, Bristol City Council PRINTED BY The Manson Group PUBLISHED BY 3Fox International, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational.com SUBSCRIPTIONS bristol-is.co.uk COVER: SS Great Britain by Mr Standfast / Alamy Stock Photo IMAGES: ©@JonCraig_Photos, Daniel Burman, Ralph Hodgson Photographer, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, STUDIO CANAL, Bristol Film Office, Nick Wall/Channel 4, Happy Hour Productions, Giles Keyte, BBC, Aardman Animations, ©Adam Gasson/SS Great Britain, ©Mark Simmons, zixia / Shutterstock.com, ©Paul Box, ©Barbara Evripidou, ©Chris Bahn/Bristol Design, ©Nicola Thomspon Photography, Hart’s Bakery/Mike Lusmore, City of Bristol Rowing Club ©2018 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.

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BRISTOL IS NEWS

TEMPLE MEADS TEAM APPOINTED

SWEET DEAL FOR BRISTOL A mixed-use redevelopment project on the site of a former Bristol chocolate factory is due to start this autumn.

The former Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory in Greenbank will be transformed into 140 homes, comprising 96 apartments and 44 houses, with commercial and community space.

The developer Generator South West, which bought the derelict site in 2014 from administrators, was awarded planning permission in 2017, after a comprehensive planning process, spanning more than three years and extensive public consultation and liaison with Bristol City Council.

The historic factory was originally built in the early 20th century by William Cowlin and Son, for chocolatiers Packer & Co Chocolate Makers. The trading company Elizabeth Shaw acquired the premises in 1968, producing thousands of her famous mint crisps and other treats there until 2006.

The site will be restored, with a number of the original factory buildings – designed by architect F. Shove – remaining intact. The Chocolate Factory will also include flexible work space, a cafe/bar, community hub, landscaped open space and a pedestrian and cycle link onto the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.

Development consultancy Mott MacDonald has been appointed

by Bristol City Council to transform Bristol Temple Meads station and the surrounding Temple Quarter district.

The appointment was made in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority (the prime funder), Network Rail and Homes England, following a competitive tendering process.

The project aims to speed up the regeneration of the Temple Quarter district, including proposals for the development of the area around the station.

The masterplan will look at ways to open up access to – and through – Bristol Temple Meads from the east of the city and to bring forward new development, including retail, office, housing and leisure facilities around the station and Temple Quarter. This initial phase is expected to take around nine months to complete.

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said: “We are currently the only major UK city without a modern railway station.

“At long last, that is about to change – thanks to the energy and commitment of the partnership we have brought together.”

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The development of Bristol’s newest secondary school has reached an important milestone, with project leaders confirming that they secured a permanent site in Temple Quarter, subject to planning approval.

Oasis Academy Temple Quarter is being developed as a joint venture partnership between Bristol City Council, Oasis Community Learning, the Learning City Partnership and the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.

As the largest secondary school in Bristol, its final capacity for 1,600 students, including a sixth form, will serve people aged between 11 and 18 from the central and east areas of the city.

SUSTAINABILITY DRIVE GIVEN GLOBAL SHOWCASE Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and mayor of the west of England Tim Bowles joined international government, city and business leaders at a summit in summer 2018 to showcase their experiences of developing a sustainable economy.

The sixth World Cities Summit in Singapore, which took place from 8 July to 12 July saw Rees and Bowles speak at The Liveable & Sustainable Cities: ‘Embracing the Future Through Innovation and Collaboration’ forum, attended by over 150 mayors from 125 countries and regions.

Rees said: “I look forward to sharing ideas on how we ensure that success is felt by everyone in our city, and cities around the world. And this is just the start. We are honoured to be hosting the Global Parliament of Mayors in Bristol this October – bringing leaders from across the world together to tackle the most challenging issues of our time.” →

BRISTOL IS NEWS

BRISTOL SCHOOL SECURES SITE

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BRISTOL IS NEWS

UNIVERSITY CAMPUS VISION APPROVED Architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has won outline planning permission for its design of a £300 million city centre campus for the University of Bristol, less than two months after the scheme was approved.

The site will provide teaching, research and innovation space for 800 staff, external partners and 3,000 students, and accommodation for up to 1,500 undergraduates and postgraduates, by transforming the former Royal Mail sorting office and part of Temple Island.

A new £43 million Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre has already been announced.

The main academic building will create a ‘gateway’ to Temple Meads railway station, while the public will be encouraged to use the campus’ waterfront, cafes and shops, and the walking and cycling routes. The campus, which aims to take in its first students in 2021/22, will be car-free, apart from disabled access.

Professor Guy Orpen, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: “We are committed to a world-class centre for education, research, partnership and innovation that will be a success story not just for the university but for the city, its businesses, communities and citizens.

“Our vision is for an open and welcoming campus, with high quality buildings and inspiring public spaces.”

WAPPING WHARF TO EXPAND? Wapping Wharf developer Umberslade has submitted plans to extend a retail and leisureled development scheme in Bristol.

The city council will consider proposals for CARGO 2, a joint venture with Muse Developments, which will feature 40 independent shops, restaurants and cafes, within converted shipping containers and 200 apartments at Wapping Wharf within Bristol’s harbourside. This will expand the original CARGO shipping container project at the site.

The expansion would see two more blocks of shipping containers erected, one with six 14.8sq m units and the other with three, to be added on top of CARGO 2 with terrace spaces.

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UNIVERSITY ACCOMMODATION PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED A joint venture partnership between student accommodation provider Campus Living Villages UK and investment fund Equitix has been appointed as the development partner for approximately 1,200 new accommodation spaces at the University of Bristol, beginning with the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

Equitix will oversee all aspects of the development, from construction and acquisition to maintenance and operation, while Campus Living Villages will work with the university’s pastoral care team to ensure students have access to 24/7 support.

Work is expected to start in 2019 and the campus is scheduled to open for the 2021/22 academic year.

Bristol City Council’s cabinet has announced plans for a mixed-use development on Temple Island instead of an arena.

The decision was taken on 4 September 2018 to work with partners to develop an alternative mixed-use scheme for the Temple Island site, and is expected to work up a proposal for cabinet approval in due course, which could potentially include a conference centre, hotel, retail space and housing, a proportion of which is to be earmarked as affordable.

An outline for developing Temple Island for mixed-use purposes has been submitted by investment firm Legal & General, with designs by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol said: “We need to move forward now and ensure Bristol is fit for the demands of a modern, thriving and well connected city.

“I am confident an alternative development for Temple Island is at the heart of that vision and will create inclusive economic growth, jobs and homes. Jobs and affordable homes are the key priorities for delivery by my administration and they will come first.”

A concert venue at the former Brabazon hangar on Filton airfield to the north of the city is still a possibility, with the council in discussion with Malaysian developer YTL, the owner of the land.

BRISTOL IS NEWS

ALTERNATIVE TEMPLE ISLAND SCHEME TO BE EXPLORED

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ORGANIC CAMERA Bristol’s TV and film pedigree rivals any UK city. Carly Cassano reports on how a network of production and post-production companies find the grounding they need in the city to blossom

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esearchers have been examining fungi living in the earth’s soil since the 17th century. In the 1960s, it became clear that plants and fungi have a mutually beneficial relationship. About 10 years ago, a rather mystical idea came to light: “plants communicate with each other through fungus in the soil”.

The result of this type of communication amongst living organisms is: an enriched foundation, distinctly nourishing variety, and more equitable growth. When UNESCO awarded Bristol “City of Film” status in November 2017, it recognised the forest for the fungus.

The film and television industry in Bristol has always been as much about nurturing small, avant-garde productions as it has about drawing in the big ones. Fifteen years ago, Bristol created a dedicated film office to provide consolidated access to production services, including resources – such as equipment rentals and studio space – and permissions, such as the use of Bristol city streets.

According to Natalie Moore, manager of the Bristol Film Office, this kind of accessibility “nurtures local projects and promotes Bristol globally”. Having a City of Film badge means Bristol is “learning from a network partners all over the world”. It means sustainable development, representation of marginalised communities, and the preservation of its independent spirit.

The Bottle Yard is a perfect of example of this. It’s a massive film and TV production organisation located in south-west Bristol, where new life pushes through old concrete. About eight years ago, when one of Bristol’s most critical TV productions relocated to Cardiff, the city was at risk of losing its strong local supply chain. Locals were at risk of losing job opportunities. The Bottle Yard was born.

Pictured clockwise from left Lily James in The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society (Studio Canal); filming on Bristol Harbour (Bristol Film Office); Kiri (Nick Wall & Channel 4), also shot in the city.

BRISTOL IS INNOVATION

CITY OF INNOVATION

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BRISTOL IS INNOVATION

A BROAD RANGE OF VOICES MAKES THE WORLD RICHER

Pictured from top Shooting Wolf Hall (BBC) at Bristol Cathedral; The Crystal Maze (Channel 4) is made at The Bottle Yard Studios; Houses of Parliament scenes from the BBC’s Poldark were also filmed there.

Several huge 70 year-old industrial buildings were repurposed and adapted into production and post-production offices, studio spaces, and very large stages. The beauty of this transformation, says Fiona Francombe, The Bottle Yard’s site director, is that it happened organically: “We just thought we’d see what happens.”

It is now one of the best avenues for local professionals to obtain employment in the film industry. By supporting vocational programmes through free-use initiatives, participants can see firsthand how valuable their skills are.

Students and newcomers can learn production theory, then get their hands on a grip. It’s also the production house for the BBC’s Poldark, ITV’s Broadchurch and Channel 4’s The Crystal Maze.

According to Dick Penny, managing director at Watershed – a cinema, media studio and cultural centre on Bristol’s harbourside that promotes new ideas and experimental storytelling: “In Bristol, we celebrate each other’s success and try not to be too inward-looking. The whole rationale is to get people thinking about the future. The best lens for that is often narrative, and seeing other people’s experiences.”

As a show of faith, it accepts the Bristol Pound, an alternative currency that circulates within, and filters back into Bristol’s economy. And while it’s probably not going to become the dominant currency, that’s not the point. Says Penny: “The point of an alternative isn’t necessarily so it becomes dominant, it’s so it can be independent and equal.

A broad range of voices makes the world richer.”

The crew at Floating Harbour Studios agree. The film production company is based in a beautiful old Dutch barge, located on the water. Producer Anna Shearer describes the work the company does as “extremely varied”.

“Working on the water, and on productions for international and local clients means one day you’re doing a documentary at the zoo, and the next you’re up 26 storeys making a film for a steel company in London,” she says.

Success with a diverse range of projects means the company rents high-end kit, as well as studio spaces on the boat. If Shearer is right, and film and TV production in Bristol is about “creation, not competition”, it’s no surprise that the foundation is healthy and the future bright.

Many successful smaller film and TV production companies call Bristol home, including – to name a few: Doghouse Post Production; Films at 59; Ammonite Films; Happy Hour Productions and South West Film.

Elsewhere, the BBC Natural History Unit has been in the historic Broadcasting House since it started in 1957, and produces – amongst a staggering number of other things – David Attenborough’s The Blue Planet and Life on Earth. It creates more hours of wildlife documentary stories than any place on earth. But before all that, it was simply seeing how things would grow.

The BBC’s production house is an exemplary channel for Bristol’s creativity and power in the industry. It’s one of the big trees in the forest that shares its nutrients and light with nearby seedlings. They all work with the mutual understanding that, to create the best productions and give back to their communities, they must have, as Penny puts it: “a sense of adventure, coupled with a sense of tolerance”. They must always “embrace the new”.

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CITY OF INNOVATION

SPACE INVADERS In Bristol, disparate companies from a diversifying range of sectors come together in modern, unique open spaces to foster a spirit of collaboration. Hannah Gal reports

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Bristol has always been an ambitious city,” says Nick Sturge, director of Bristol’s Engine Shed, “from fishermen sailing to America many years ago, right through to today’s innovation.”

This “global outlook” is also the spirit of the Engine Shed, where business leaders, academics and corporates meet to collaborate and inspire enterprise.

Engine Shed has re-engineered the terminal building of Brunel’s old rail station by the city’s current Temple Meads station. Components currently under Engine Shed’s roof are The Interchange – which offers workspace to strategic organisations and inward investment services – Saloon Car, The Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator, Bristol SETsquared centre, Boomsatsuma builders and Bristol Angel Hub, supporting the early-stage investor community.

“Our ethos is about having components which share economic growth as a common goal and interact with each other,” explains Sturge. “Users of the business lounge meet and collaborate serendipitously, or with nudges from my team or other tenants. Oracle, for example, developed a relationship with Invest Bath and Bristol via such conversations and now it has strong relationships with the university as well as the city.”

Its cross-sector philosophy sees Engine Shed arrange monthly “connects” and joint events with other incubators, hubs, workspaces and programmes, as well as work with primary school children, “where hi-tech companies in the incubators are used as role models”.

Engine Shed also ‘seeds’ projects, such as the £1,000 surplus used to put together a bid to the Digital Catapult, to establish an “Internet of Things” acceleration programme.

It brought together University of Bristol, University of West England, SETsquared and others and resulted in £45,000 of work in that area, supporting the growth of 15 companies, one of which has just joined the Oracle accelerator programme.

“Engine Shed 2 (see page 40) will take us even further,” says Sturge, “through added space for more components, and more money to spend on interesting projects.”

Sturge also serves as a member of TechSPARK’s advisory board. A useful information hub, TechSPARK connects and informs the Bristol technology industry about news, jobs and regular events. Like Engine Shed, it holds interaction as key to encouraging enterprise and aims to get “a coder to meet a creative, creative to meet an entrepreneur, entrepreneur to meet a graduate”.

To Desklodge founder Thanh Quan-Nicholls, Bristol is “unlike other cities”. It has unparalleled community spirit where “businesses support each other through cross referrals, sharing and cross promotion, all driven by the conviction that you cannot lose from supporting others, only gain”.

Desklodge was created as a new-age, “non nine-to-five” work environment. “Our users do not close their office door,” explains Quan-Nicholls, “they talk to each other. Freelancers engage with corporates and collaborations come to life.”

Home to predominantly creative and tech start-ups, Desklodge’s strength is in the multitude of work spaces and renting packages it offers freelance developers, engineers, silicon chip and aerospace designers, creatives and those who service them, such as recruitment agents.

BUSINESSES SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH CROSS REFERRALS, SHARING AND CROSS PROMOTION

Pictured Companies at Paintworks (previous page, top, middle) include 42group (above); Engine Shed and plans for Engine Shed 2 (right).

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“We have any kind of work space imaginable, so users West of England (UWE). Pervasive features 100 artists’ spaces, can find the space that is ideal for their purpose” says Quanas well as running both cultural and commercial projects, Nicholls. “You can rent meeting rooms by the hour, opt for a spanning any practice, from food to interactive documentary stand-up desk, a ‘homey’ feel or a small ‘nook and cranny’. maker. For Spike Island, the collaboration is with students It is the interaction-heavy environment that breeds both and staff of the UWE fine art BA programmes. company and people diversity, and is why we were the port Bristol is also home to heavy industry. Aerospace of call for Dyson when the company wanted to recruit more contributes £1 billion to the south-west’s economy and the women and improve its gender mix.” sector is a major source of employment.

Desklodge is one of several providers This area is “a vital hub for the UK’s responding to the increasing demand aerospace industry,” says Airbus’s senior for office premises, particularly in the vice president Katherine Bennett, “going tech and creative industries, which is back more than 100 years”. predicted to rise by 6.5% over the next Rolls Royce employs more than five years.

3,000 people at its north Bristol site, BUSINESSES BASED AT A relative newcomer is Generator which currently accommodates defence, BRISTOL’S PAINTWORKS South West with its Huller and Cheese supply chain, controls and data services. development overlooking the floating In 2015, the city was also announced as harbour. The scheme rescued the the location for a centre of an “advanced building from being listed as ‘heritage at risk’. Ideal for fan system composite technology development”, securing 120 design-led businesses, the offices are within walking distance jobs in the city by the end of 2019. from Temple Meads station, as well as being close to a range of In Bristol, a whole range of sectors and workers benefit bars, eateries, nightlife and galleries. from a myriad of office spaces, kitted out to provide bespoke A more established provider is Bristol Spaceworks, requirements for different needs. It’s little wonder startup which concentrates on improving the economic wealth business in the city is flourishing. b of disadvantaged communities. Founded in 1985, it provides networking opportunities with the wider business community, as well as affordable offices, artists’ studios, workshops and individual desks.

Fellow space provider Paintworks has become a landmark in Bristol’s trendy landscape. “We have around 200 businesses on site, many in the creative industries” says Ashley Nicholson from project developer Verve Properties, including high profile users like the Royal Photographic society, The RIBA [Royal Institute of British Architects] and Bath Spa University.

“Paintworks is proof that mixed-use does work, and that it is possible to create communities,” reflects Nicholson.

“We support users’ growth,” he adds. “Companies such as Rockpool and Beef, for example, were start-ups with just desk space when they began here, they have grown on-site and just moved into larger units within it.”

Documentary photographer and occupier Martin Parr agrees, citing his foundation “being with likeminded companies and artists” as an advantage, while 42group enjoys Paintworks’ varied environment. “We’ve been here for two years now,” says managing director Lowrie Jones, “and things keep getting bigger and better.”

Bristol has a vibrant creative scene, associated with iconic street artist Banksy and film giants Aardman and Encounters.

Its affordable studios are a magnet for artists with non-profit operators such as Centrespace, offering 28 low cost studios to a range of practitioners including a glassmaker, Baftawinning animators and a wood carver, among many others.

There is also Desklodge, named by The Daily Telegraph in 2016 as one of the “15 coolest offices in the world”. Renovated from old newsprint offices, it features a room full of Lego and a soundproofed dance music chamber.

The Knowle West Media Centre uses the arts to offer skills development, training and employment for young people and the Pervasive Media Studio is a collaboration between Watershed, University of Bristol and the University of the

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CITY OF INNOVATION

A GRAND DAY OUT World-famous engineers, pioneering animators, street art and a famed music scene, as well as engaging galleries and museums, define cultural Bristol. Sofia Kannas reports

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ristol has come a long way since its centuries-long standing as a trading port. Bustling yet laid-back, the city’s quirky and innovative cultural scene, alongside a rich maritime legacy, make it one of the most cosmopolitan cities outside London. It has a huge amount to explore – from Brunel’s celebrated Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Bristol Old Vic theatre to Europe’s biggest exhibition of street art and the home of Aardman – the animation studio behind the ever-lovable Wallace and Gromit.

Aardman’s arts trail epitomises Bristol’s idiosyncrasies, and this year includes more than 60 sculptures of Wallace, his canine friend Gromit and arch-nemesis Feathers McGraw, displayed across the city. It is the third such event, following success in previous years, when Aardman characters such as Shaun the Sheep were featured. Organised in conjunction with The Grand Appeal charity, the giant sculptures will raise money for the city’s Children’s Hospital.

Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit and Grand Appeal patron, says: “Gromit Unleashed 2 showcases everything that’s wonderful about this city: its rich heritage in engineering and science, its creativity, its culture, and of course, Bristol Children’s Hospital.”

Nicola Masters, the charity’s director, agrees that the trails highlight the best of Bristol, while raising money for an excellent cause. “All you need to do is look at our sculptures to see how much influence Bristol’s cultural heritage has on our trails,” she says. “We feel so fortunate to call such a vibrant, creative city our home and I think that, alongside the support of the local community, this has played a large part in its unbelievable success.”

World-famous street artist Banksy is also from Bristol and his original murals can still be seen around the city. The city’s annual street art exhibition, Upfest, is now in its 10th year, and has featured many examples of striking work, with aspiring spray painters no doubt taking inspiration from the enigmatic figurehead of the scene.

People attending Upfest have the opportunity to watch the actual creation of artwork, as Stephen Hayles, the festival’s director explains: “It’s like going to watch a group of musicians have jam sessions and create new music as opposed to watching a polished gig – it’s a totally different experience.

“It’s actually a very brave thing for the artist to do – put themselves out there on display, not knowing if their next can or brush move will elevate the artwork or bring it down to the ground with a thump.”

Upfest also champions inclusivity. It began by opening its arms to anyone wanting to get involved. Now massively oversubscribed – more than 1,000 artists applied for 400 spaces this year – Hayles is determined to keep the policy of running the festival as a free event, despite the challenges this poses. He says: “Our policy of inclusion runs through all aspects: from artists, visitors and our amazing volunteers. It’s this aspect which really got the festival going.”

Hayles also believes it is largely Bristol’s heritage and creativity that makes Upfest internationally recognised: “This year we’ll see artists travel from 70 countries, and it’s that same diverse background of people in our city that has shaped our culture.”

Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, agrees: “We are a city that holds together high aspiration with gritty reality; the city of

BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN IS A SYMBOL OF BRISTOL’S LONG ASSOCIATION WITH INNOVATION AND GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY

Pictured clockwise from left Gromit P. Sullivan by Pixar Animations; one of the most famous Banksy murals, Man Hanging From Window, on Frogmore Street in Bristol; Brunel’s SS Great Britain.

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diversity, where we champion the fact that we experience the same raw material of urban life in very different ways.”

These very same qualities could be attributed to the continuing success of Bristol’s renowned music scene, with its rich mix of styles, genres and sounds.

A key music city since the 1950s and the birthplace of trip-hop – defined by acts such as Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead – the city boasts a plethora of live music bars, underground clubs, a classical music hall, and popular gig nights. Its musical heritage is explored at the latest exhibition at M Shed, taking punters on an interactive musical journey through bands, genres and memorabilia from the city across the decades.

There is a daily line-up of live entertainment at the world famous Bristol Old Vic theatre as well as at Colston Hall, Bristol Hippodrome and the Tobacco Factory theatres. Also, there are a number of fine museums and galleries in Bristol, many of which are free to enter, including We the Curious, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and Arnolfini.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain in the city’s bustling Harbourside is a symbol of Bristol’s long association with innovation and global connectivity. The museum ship and visitor attraction is dedicated to inspiring people with the life and legacy of Brunel. With the opening of the Being Brunel museum earlier this year, the city became home to what it believes is “the world’s most significant Brunel collection”, giving an unprecedented insight into the life, family, interests and creative mind of just one of an exhaustive list of famous people to have influenced Bristol. b

Pictured from top Daddy G from Massive Attack; art work by Caro Pepe at Upfest 2018; Nick Park with Space Oddi-tea at Bristol Harbourside.

Pictured clockwise from top left picture caption

MADE FOR THE CITY

An impressive waterfront development in the heart of the city, Assembly Bristol offers a range of unique spaces and offers up to 316,000 sq.ft, with office floorplates ranging from 4,500 sq.ft to 22,740 sq.ft. Ideally situated in the city’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone, Assembly Bristol’s flexible design and occupier-led scheme will create a community-based workplace with unique character and a wealth of amenities.

It’s made for Bristol and made for business.

ASSEMBLYBRISTOL.COM

ALL ENQUIRES

A DEVELOPMENT BY

RE - IMAGINING BETTER WAYS TO LIVE IN OUR CITIES

2018 sees the start of a five-year project, the Bristol Housing Festival, during which time new communities will be commissioned, funded and built across the city. The festival intends to road-test a range of existing concepts and innovative solutions in the real-world helping to speed up the delivery of quality, affordable housing in the city.

A significant amount of time has been invested by the council into thinking about city leadership and enabling change. Three critical pillars of infrastructure have been created: 1. City Office – how does a city work together to achieve systemic change by 2050 2. One City Approach – focussing on goals/outcomes for 2050 3. Strategic City Funds – focussing on raising capital to enable the One City Approach The Bristol Housing Festival is intended to provide a catalytic project that gives momentum and opportunity to move the City Office from rhetoric to action. This will engender confidence and hope within the city and demonstrate the leadership required to enable change to be delivered. We will be moving fast to establish small prototypes and to learn from those in order to shape policy and build scalable models. This will show momentum and activity while relationships and patterns of working within the City Office are created and perfected – all gathered around key desired outcomes – as determined in the One City Approach and articulated into the Housing Festival outcomes.

The public launch of the festival, on the city’s waterfront, 19 October to 4 November is the start of this five-year project. Public engagement is crucial to the festival, inviting the public to re-imagine the future of our cities.

Over its lifetime, the festival will seek to showcase, promote and prototype new housing ideas and to help develop solutions to tackle some of the systemic poverty and limitations on affordable housing that our current housing market has created.

CIVIC LEADERSHIP ON A GLOBAL SCALE Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, came into office with an express commitment to make radical changes to the city’s civic leadership and global profile.

He quickly established a City Office, bringing together leaders from across the private, public and community sectors in the city, and set about developing a One City Approach to address the city’s challenges and exploit the city’s strengths.

The introduction of this One City Approach has led to Bristol becoming one of the finalists for the European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) 2018, alongside the likes of Vienna, Madrid, Hamburg and Gothenburg. iCapital is an annual prize awarded to the European city that is best able

to demonstrate its ability to harness innovation to improve the lives of its citizens.

Bristol’s submission for the €1million prize focused on the innovative ‘One City Approach’ to civic leadership, rather than a specific technical innovation. Bristol is developing the model of a One City Office and the ‘One City Approach’, bringing together partners and institutions across the city to collaborate and innovate, as concepts that can be extended and shared with other cities.

Global Parliament of Mayors Annual Summit 2018 In October 2018, mayors from all over the world gathered in Bristol for the Global Parliament of Mayors Annual Summit.

global governance and the urgent need for the influence, expertise and leadership of cities to be felt as international policy is shaped.

This year’s summit, the biggest and most ambitious to date, attracted over 100 mayors for an actionfocussed summit, addressing some of the biggest challenges facing today’s cities.

Bristol’s involvement in the Global Parliament of Mayors is perhaps a logical extension of its part in the UK Core Cities and Eurocities. It provides a global network of connections and a space to develop the collective city voice necessary to drive positive change.

The theme – empowering cities as drivers of change – centred on

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Two different Bristol streets host an array of innovative and inspiring shops, run by passionate people, helping to give it one of the most varied retail sectors of any UK city.

Jane Thynne uncovers the secrets of its success

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o you remember the days when you could potter down any high street and buy veg from the greengrocer, bread from the baker or thread from the haberdasher? For most of us, they are at best a distant memory, and we are destined to trundle our trolleys down some soulless supermarket aisle for eternity.

But that fate is not for the people who live around the Bristol areas of North Street in Bedminster and a stretch near Stokes Croft taking in Cheltenham Road and Gloucester Road. They have been shopping up a storm in support of local businesses that include record stores, vintage emporiums, cafes, wine merchants and delicatessens.

“We do depend on local trade,” says Andy Minter, founder of Gloucester Road funky vintage emporium RePsycho. “We have been on this street for around 20 years and it has always had a good vibe. People pop in on the way to or from school or work. We benefit from a lot of student shoppers, who then settle here and become the new locals, so we keep their trade.”

The need for residents’ backing is echoed by Darren Willis, proprietor of neighbouring wine merchant Grape & Grind,

where fine new world wines nestle alongside an array of local beers and ciders. He says: “Most of our weekly trade comes from within a half-mile radius. We probably get a fair number of visitors at the weekend, but we can only survive if the locals in the streets immediately surrounding the shop support us.”

Wandering down the road which boasts the UK’s longest stretch of independent shops and visiting the various retailers, it is apparent that despite their independent bent, goods are all priced to sell and are not touted as niche or artisan. For example, a bottle of prosecco in Grape & Grind sells for £8.99, comparable to any supermarket. This practice has been taken up by many ‘local-style’ shops elsewhere.

“That is exactly what people need to know, and what our retailers offer,” says Anne-Louise Perez, Gloucester Road Business Improvement District (BID) manager. “We want this to be a living, breathing, playing, working environment.

You live here, you send your children to school here - why wouldn’t you shop here?”

Why indeed. Nevertheless, financial woes are never far away from small business owners’ minds. Minter says there →

BRISTOL IS INDEPENDENT RETAIL

COUNTER CULTURE

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BRISTOL IS INDEPENDENT RETAIL are rumours that the street’s free parking may be under the area’s business owners backed the scheme, the US-owned threat, which would be a blow for traders, while sharp rises in chain’s block vote against has effectively sunk it. Although, as business rates are causing concern for others.

BID manager George Grace states, they are not going down Delia Adney who, along with Erika Peto, owns the without a fight. “We have a great deal of support from local effortlessly attractive Flo Jo’s Haberdashery – famed for its people – these are very community-minded streets,” he says. ‘make-your-own-knicker’ kits. As a small business, she says, “And we are not giving up hope. The BID is definitely worth outgoings are always an issue. The store is facing annual fighting for.” business rate rises of 10% for the next five years, which will Just as Gloucester Road benefits from sympathetic undoubtedly have an impact. neighbours, so North Street relies on its community-minded “We have to work harder at promotion and how we residents that dwell in the nearby Victorian villas and can build our sales,” acknowledges Adney. “We rely on the colourful, harbour-style terraces. The mile-long thoroughfare community and our community is our customers.” boasts an array of indie shops, including Parsons Bakery, Flo Jo’s is very supportive of the local BID, as are both Grenville Wick card shop and Zara’s Chocolates.

Willis and Minter. “As independent retailers we have to look Zara’s, which was founded by Zara Narracott more than out for ourselves,” says Minter. five years ago, is just about to leave its “Most of these businesses are run current base, which it shares with Ivory by just one or two people. But the BID is Flowers. “We are not going far,” Narracott THE BRISTOL POUND bringing the street together. It’s trying says, “just a few doors down to bigger to launch events to make it more of a Both a hard and digital premises. We are doing okay and we destination,” he adds. currency that can be are very happy on the street. It’s a nice Perez says the main aim of the BID spent in hundreds of up-and-coming area with a good mix is to help with marketing, enabling independent retailers of shoppers and shops. There is a real the retailers to benefit from a more across the city, the Bristol community feel too.” cohesive approach to promotion. “We are Pound was introduced One new business hoping to tap into trying to encourage businesses to create in 2012 with the aim of that community consciousness is Zero experiences – we have recently launched keeping local money in local Green, Bristol’s first plastic-free shop a charity shop tour with a personal stylist, businesses. While there (pictured, page 22) which opened in which has been very popular. We have is no cost to purchase the March. The brainchild of Lidia Ruedaalso entered the Great British High Street currency, businesses must Losada and Stacey Fordham, the store competition, which would raise our pay 5% to convert it back to sells all manner of goods, from vinegar to profile. We want Gloucester Road to be sterling, encouraging them washing-up liquid, all ethically produced the go-to place to see authentic Bristol.” to spend their profits locally and package-free.

While the BID may be thriving in too. It could soften costs to “You can bring your own containers Gloucester Road, across the city in retailers when using it in and stock-up, or we are happy to provide North Street, retailers are still reeling their supply chain or to pay brown paper bags,” says customer from the collapse, brought about by their business rates. assistant Sophie Lewis. “The idea is that supermarket giant Asda, of Bedminster it’s zero waste - you buy as little or as BID’s programme renewal. While 70% of much as you need.”

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BRISTOL IS INDEPENDENT RETAIL

As well as environmental credentials, Zero Green sells locally sourced, freshly ground flour from Tetbury, preserves from the Bristol Jam Plan and handmade soap from around the corner. There is also an emphasis on the need to provide affordable produce that offers “real store cupboard savings”.

And while these independents flourish, work has been ongoing in the city’s main shopping area to up its offer.

Broadmead, The Galleries, Cabot Circus and The Arcade are now under the umbrella of the Bristol Shopping Quarter and plans are afoot to breathe new life into the tried and tested formula of city-centre shopping.

John Hirst, chief executive of Destination Bristol, says: “Independent retail is crucial not only to more residential areas but also to the city centre, as well. There are more than 100 independents in the Shopping Quarter. However, there also needs to be a place where we can attract a gathering of national and international chains so our city can be taken seriously as a retail destination.”

According to figures from Destination Bristol, retail is the biggest beneficiary from day visitors to the city whose spending equates to £215 million per year.

Add to this the £87 million brought in by those staying overnight in the area, and it becomes clear why the city is rightly proud of its retail offer.

labels such as Rough Trade Records. While traditional bricks and mortar music retailers are shutting up shop across the country, the iconic record label and music shop chose the city as a base for one of its four quintessential stores.

“Like any major UK city, Bristol’s retail scene is generic to a point, but thankfully it counters that more than most cities with a healthy proportion of independent traders,” says Rough Trade New Bridewell site manager Stephen Godfroy.

“Bristol shoppers are thankfully curious of mind, which lends itself well to our offer: giving curious minds a place to discover new inspiration, a place to congregate, a place to celebrate and rejoice independent voices. That’s our role, and thankfully Bristol is responding positively. Long may it continue.” Long indeed. b

WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SUPPORT FROM LOCAL PEOPLE – THESE ARE VERY COMMUNITY-MINDED STREETS And Bristol is not afraid to capitalise on its strengths.

Situated in the heart of the ‘West Country’, it boasts a celebrated cider industry with a myriad of artisan products all sold by the award-winning Bristol Cider Shop. Situated on Wapping Wharf, it sells more than 100 ciders, juices and perrys, all made within 50 miles of the store.

Bristol is also famed for its eclectic art and music scenes (think Banksy, Massive Attack, Portishead), attracting iconic

Pictured clockwise from far left Grape & Grind; Zara’s Chocolates; RePsycho; Flo Jo Haberdashery.

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BRISTOL IS FOOD AND DRINK

SOMETHING COOKING Bristol’s unique markets and increasingly tantalising food and drink offer are helping to shape its personality and future. Russell Hargrave embarks on a culinary expedition to discover what’s on offer →

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BRISTOL IS FOOD AND DRINK

W

hen you step into Bristol, you find a market city. It may be famous for its docks, its towering suspension bridge and – in more recent decades – its two world-class universities, but these days, locals and visitors will also be struck by Bristol’s energetic markets and ever-improving food and drink scene.

At the heart of it all is the bustling St Nicholas Market, known to most Bristolians as St Nick’s.

You can’t miss St Nick’s long history. One of the first sights on heading into the crowded covered market in the old corn exchange is a sign announcing its upcoming 275th birthday.

Around 60 traders operate from the market every day, with more stalls just outside its stone walls. It’s not only street food, but jewellery and art shops and second-hand bookstalls also attract a diverse crowd.

“We are like a family,” explains Enggi Holt, talking about her fellow traders. She runs Enggi’s Kitchen, an Indonesian

stall on the corner of St Nick’s. Her business is part of “a family of international traders,” she says. “There is Brazilian, Jamaican and Thai and all sorts of things. We help each other and try to make the market really vibrant.”

Enggi’s Kitchen is relatively new to St Nick’s, but other traders tell the same story.

The Hot Sauce Emporium has been in St Nick’s for more than a decade, and for the last year has been run by John Finch.“By and large it is a very convivial place to work,” Finch says cheerfully. “I get on with most people.”

This includes his customers, and Finch is happy to provide “something a bit different for the curious”. People enjoy trying chillis and sauces so they can “test themselves and their mates – see how hot they can take it,” Finch says. This merriment is the fun side of St Nick’s, but the market is also there for “people who are really into their food,” he adds.

Bristol’s markets boost the city’s wider success. Marvin

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BRISTOL IS FOOD AND DRINK

Pictured from left Food at St Nick’s Market; St Nick’s Market; Pieminister. Previous page Pieminister.

weekly food stalls in the shadow of Bristol’s banking and legal quarter. Just across the canal from St Nick’s, another takes place every week at Finzels Reach, where market crowds mingle with people on their way to yoga classes in a modern setting amid shiny office and residential buildings, providing a contrast to St Nick’s Georgian architecture.

Alongside the food enthusiasts, Bristol’s markets also cater to people “looking for new experiences – something more than just shopping,” according to Roger Hinchcliffe, whose photography shop is based in The Nails Market.

Rees, Bristol’s mayor, is keen to promote “The market evolves and changes to how the city is the fastest growing attract new customers,” he says. As for economy outside London, a result of Hinchcliffe’s photography, customers are people pulling together as the markets typically in their 20s and 30s. “It is people take on a growing role within the who are setting up house and want things YEARS ST NICK’S MARKET development of the city. on the walls. I am often told ‘I have loads HAS BEEN OPERATING Sarah Jones, the council’s markets of blank space on the walls and I need and estates officer, has an office inside St something to fill it’,” he explains.

Nick’s, with a view overlooking the stalls.

The Harbourside Market is a bit “We are the largest site with the most independent traders different. Overlooking ships waiting to ferry tourists and [in Bristol],” she says. “We keep it local for people and the commuters around the city, it takes place every weekend and surrounding area.” on Thursdays, filling one stretch of space next to the canal and Jones’ positivity is commanding. “It’s so dynamic,” she home to dozens of designers and food stalls. says. “No two days are the same. You never know what to Despite its individual setting, The Harbourside Market’s expect when you come in each morning.” communal spirit reflects that of other markets across the city.

There is more for food fanatics to enjoy in Bristol. On “We try to help each other,” says Gabriella Bostan, who runs arrival by train, Temple Quay Market near the station has MacKenzie’s Café Bar just across from the site. She explains

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BRISTOL IS FOOD AND DRINK

that this conviviality can come in handy too: “If we are running out of something, we go to the market.”

Elsewhere, Matthew Arnold reflects on the success of The Gravel Pit, where he and his brother Brendan create and sell planters, as well as original pieces by other local artists.

Arnold points at the garden gnomes and stone ornaments on sale around him. “We benefit from having unique things, stuff you can’t get anywhere else,” he says. “For this and so much more, Bristol is the only place to come.”

Not only are the markets buzzing. Those arriving into the city at Temple Meads station by train can follow the smell of fresh pastries in Hart’s Bakery, while combining a coffee and cake with art and community activities is the order of the day at Café Kino, a workers’ co-operative north of the city centre.

There is a quirkiness about the city’s food and drink scene.

For instance, lidos can be found all over the country, but you would be hard pushed to find one with a poolside tapas bar, as is the case at The Lido in Clifton.

But perhaps one of Bristol’s most celebrated food stories comes in the humble form of a pie. Jon Simons (pictured right, page 27) set up Pieminister in Bristol in 2003. There are now three branches in the city – in Stoke’s Croft, St Nick’s and Broad Quay.

PEOPLE VALUE SMALLER INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS, FOCUSING ON FRESHER AND MORE LOCAL PRODUCE The original concept was actually borne out of Simons’ time in Australia and the pies he enjoyed down under, but the brand would come synonymous with Bristol. Fast forward to 2018 and there are a dozen branches outside the city and Pieminister is a regular presence at major festivals and events, as well as in pubs, clubs and supermarkets.

“We are the first people to do any really decent vegetarian options, and we’ve moved into vegan as well, says Simons.

“When we started there wasn’t an awful lot of choice. There has been a huge emergence of good stuff since then.

“There are lots of really good farms nearby, lots of great produce flowing into the city,” he adds. “If they can, people want to support local food.”

Tom Masters, the new owner of The Birch restaurant in Southville, agrees: “I think the food scene is excellent in Bristol. There are lots of new restaurants opening.” The Birch has been around for more than four years and re-opened under Masters’ management in August after a brief period.

Like Simons, he thinks something big is starting locally.

“One good trend which I have certainly seen is people are starting to value smaller independent restaurants, focusing on fresher and more local produce, as opposed to bigger chains. The chains seem to be declining a bit, and people are picking the smaller independent companies which support local suppliers.”

For Masters this means choosing his wine from the local Mendip company, and his fruit and veg from stalls on the high street. And although he might expand into another restaurant one day, for now there is only one place to be.

“I was born in Bristol, raised in Bristol,” he says. “My thinking at the moment is very much local.” b

Above & below Hart’s Bakery is popular with those arriving into Bristol Temple Meads train station.

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BRISTOL IS THE CITY OF WATER

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BRISTOL IS THE CITY OF WATER

MAKING A SPLASH Water is a fabulous natural asset to any place. Sarah Herbert explores the ways Bristol is already utilising its river and harbour and the plans for the future of its waterways

→

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BRISTOL IS THE CITY OF WATER

B

ristol’s maritime heritage runs through the city like its docks run through its centre. In many ways Bristol is its maritime heritage. It is even originator of that most nautical of phrases, ‘shipshape and Bristol fashion’. Before it was enclosed, to become ‘floating’, Bristol’s harbour had the second highest tidal range in the world. If everything on a ship wasn’t tied down ‘Bristol fashion’, the ship would tip over on the exposed seabed when the tide went out, causing its cargo to tumble.

The Romans built a harbour in Bristol. The city was trading with Ireland in the 11th Century, with Spain, Portugal and Iceland in the 14th Century and by the late-15th Century was sending ships to North America. Its 17th and 18th century dealings with the new world and the triangular slave trade is well documented, but it was the 1809 opening of the Floating Harbour (to overcome the tipping ship problem) that sparked the harbour’s transformation into busy commercial port.

Now, even though the major port commerce is handled downriver at Avonmouth, it is still buzzing, but these days with visitors, businesses and homes.

Pictured clockwise from top left Western Harbour; Merry Go Gromit on Bristol Ferry; CARGO; Gaol Ferry Steps.

The area has been sensitively regenerated to reflect the maritime and engineering history of the city, and now forms Bristol’s 21st century cultural centre. Its attractions are based on creativity and innovation, and there is more than a nod to Isambard Kingdom Brunel – whose innovation, engineering and design greatly influenced Bristol – via the SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean liner, and of course views of his magnificent suspension bridge across the gorge.

To feed its ever increasing numbers of visitors, both local and tourists, the harbour foodie scene has exploded, with options from pizza and steak to Asian street food, washed down with cocktails, numerous types of cider (fittingly) and locally brewed beer.

At the heart of this is Wapping Wharf, a new communityfocused neighbourhood, and one of the final pieces of the Floating Harbour’s regeneration. Using previously derelict land, and restoring several listed buildings, the development connects south Bristol with the docks via Gaol Ferry Steps.

The two-phase project by Umberslade and Muse Developments will create 600 homes – 200 residents have now moved into phase one of the development – while playing home to independent shops and restaurants.

Many of these are housed in CARGO, Bristol’s first retail yard made of converted shipping containers. Set over two levels, a lot of the units have glass frontages, terraces and views over the waterfront. Its eclectic local independent shops sell everything from bamboo clothing to custom-made bikes, while its restaurants number some of the finest in Bristol, according to the Bristol Post, such as Cantina (Mexican), Root (modern veggie) and the 14-seat open-kitchened Box-E. There’s plenty to take away too, such as wines from Corks, Oliver’s ice creams and ethical cakes from Assembly Bakery.

Following the success of CARGO’s retail, developer Umberslade is planning to provide flexible workspace.

If it gets planning permission, CARGO Work will comprise 90 converted shipping containers within the walls of a former warehouse, offering small and medium-sized

35

businesses – including freelancers, collaborators and entire office teams – flexible and contemporary work space.

The designs will restore the long-derelict J. S. Fry warehouse, with work space for up to 350 people inside.

CARGO Work will also include some car parking, a cafe area, a shower suite, 24-hour access, a drying room, lockers and secure bicycle store for more than 70 bikes.

Umberslade is consulting on the plans with locals before finalising the scheme and submitting planning and listed building applications. An existing planning consent is already in place for a previous office scheme on the site.

Another development repurposing the harbour’s industrial heritage is Huller & Cheese, converting the grade II-listed Huller House and a former cheese factory. Generator South West transformed the buildings into a mixed-use development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and six penthouses with office space on the lower ground floor.

The developer also added two new storeys to house the selection of contemporary penthouses, of which there were only two left to purchase, as Bristol Is went to press.

One of the last derelict areas along the Floating Harbour to be regenerated, the developer has also created a quayside walkway, opening up the tow-path for public access.

THE SAFE AND TRANQUIL WATERS OF THE FLOATING HARBOUR ARE TEEMING WITH PADDLEBOARDS AND CANOES All this would be nothing without the real draw – the water. It’s a brilliant area. Houseboats and barges are moored up against the quay, while wonderful heritage ships are open to the public, such as The Matthew – a replica of the boat John Cabot used to discover Newfoundland in 1497 – which hosts trips around the harbour, as well as longer sailing voyages.

Independently run ferry services stop at fixed points to whisk passengers into the city centre, while private hire boats take hen or birthday parties on sightseeing trips.

Around these larger craft, the safe and tranquil waters of the Floating Harbour are teeming with paddleboards,

Bristol Harbour Festival attracts 250,000 people every year, and includes delights such as steel drummers, sea shanties, storytelling and bubbleblowing pirates, as well as nautical pursuits such as tall ships, a cardboard boat race, and the Power8Sprint rowing race, where teams from eight UK cities sprint 350m down the harbour.

The harbourside was one of the many locations for summer 2018’s Gromit Unleashed 2 trail, comprising over 60 sculptures of Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw.

Weird and wonderful events organised by enterprising Bristolian Luke Jerram have ranged from a 90m-long water slide on a Bristol street, to a flotilla of abandoned fishing boats abandoned in Leigh Woods, used as a venue for events from choir performances to lectures on climate change.

He hoped to ‘ignite the imagination of the public’.

The thinking is he succeeded…

Team building exercises are some people’s worst nightmare. Could it in fact be fun if done while on a stand-up paddleboard? Well, you can try it on Bristol’s harbour!

Eagle-eyed Bristolians are constantly on the look-out for the River Avon’s answer to the Loch Ness Monster – the Bristol crocodile. Seemingly spotted by walkers, joggers, and even a councillor, a few years ago, the more sceptical Bristol Post said it looked ‘not dissimilar to a log’. The reptile has entered into city folklore, commemorated by a warning road sign, and a knitted replica.

dinghies, and canoes, thanks to the many water sports clubs operating in the harbour. Stand-up paddleboarding, the UK’s fastest-growing watersport, is taught here, while the 60-yearold Bristol Rowing Club is still going strong.

Anyone can join in, young and old. All-Aboard Watersports runs courses and classes in sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding for those with physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities or infirmities of all ages who would otherwise feel excluded.

A few hundred yards to the west, and it could be a different harbour. Downriver from the buzz of the Floating Harbour, the Western Harbour, also known as Cumberland Basin, is home only to the lockmaster’s cabin. Yet with views of Brunel’s world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, the stunning Avon Gorge, the listed tobacco warehouses and Clifton’s Georgian terraces, the Western Harbour is one of the UK’s most desirable development locations.

It is currently dominated by outdated roads and flyovers, built in the 1960s. However, the very fact that these roads and bridges require renewal is an opportunity. Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, says: “Renewal of the infrastructure gives us the opportunity to re-think the highway network to release →

BRISTOL IS THE CITY OF WATER

SPLASHING OUT THE SILLIER SIDE OF BRISTOL’S WATER

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BRISTOL IS THE CITY OF WATER

land, realise new residential and commercial developments, Further still downriver is where all the commercial port enable hundreds of new and affordable waterside homes to be activity now takes place – Avonmouth and Severnside – and constructed and a vibrant community to be established. the new magnet for business and development.

“The regenerated harbourside area and heritage assets The Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) will act as a significant draw to a new city quarter,” he extends over 1,800 hectares, along five miles of the Severn continues. “This will become a key city destination – a genuine Estuary – Avonmouth to the south, Severnside to the north. mixed-use development, a new community and a new Avonmouth is the closest port to the main centres of UK attraction for jobs, investment, tourism and leisure.” population, with 45 million people living within a radius of Simplifying the infrastructure will release 15 to 20ha of 300 kilometres, while Severnside is the largest brownfield site developable land, with the potential to provide new homes, in Western Europe. plus commercial and leisure space. The residential elements As well as excellent connectivity – the M5 and M49 alone have a gross development value of over £1 billion. motorways, mainline railway and the Port of Bristol – At the same time, the new infrastructure could simplify development of the area has strong political support and is the road system, increase pedestrian access to the Avon, regarded as a key strategic employment site. Although the create a tidal and fluvial flood risk ASEA crosses two local authorities (City of management strategy for central Bristol, Bristol and South Gloucestershire), there improve access to the harbour and has been very close work between the two upgrade essential flood defences resilient on developing the site, supported by the to climate change.

West of England Combined Authority and There is a fly in the ointment. The Local Enterprise Partnership.

PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN road network, while cumbersome, In 2010, about 14,200 people were AVONMOUTH SEVERNSIDE includes two vital swing bridges, the employed in Avonmouth Severnside, with (2010) the three largest sectors being transport Plimsoll and the Junction, that join the and storage (23%), wholesale (22%) and north and south of Bristol together. To manufacturing (18%). prevent impeding traffic, during or after It is home to many UK and global brands, with a string redevelopment, an additional bridge would need of recent new occupiers in the logistics and distribution to be built to accommodate the displaced traffic, before sector, including Amazon, Tesco, John Lewis and Honda, work starts. with manufacturing and utility occupiers including GKN And when would that be? Not for a while, with such a Aerospace, Astra Zeneca, Viridor and Wessex Water. major project. As Rees says: “The works could run into many Key plans for future infrastructure development hundreds of millions of pounds. It is important therefore that include enhanced flood prevention works to open up more we do this right rather than quickly. Of course, the need for developable land, together with a new motorway junction on inclusive growth and affordable homes is urgent and pressing the M49, and construction of a deep-sea container terminal to but the stakes are high so it is better that we invest cautiously. enhance connectivity.

“We are prioritising the redesign of the highways and Such plans have the potential to increase the 84-ha transport connections. This will then inform the picture of Avonmouth commercial floor space by 277,168sq m within the land that then becomes available for development. We 25 years, and increase its employment by 4,000 by 2026, while are committed to full engagement with local residents and the 462ha Severnside could see 1,323,630sq m of commercial the broader city stakeholders in masterplanning to deliver floorspace, and up to 8,000 new jobs. b something which is genuinely world class.”

14,200

Pictured above from left The Matthew; Generator South West’s Huller & Cheese development.

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Invest

“A high quality, very focused issue that truly reflected our regeneration and growth ambitions.”

Waltham Forest Encouraging investment in Waltham Forest

Ways to connect

With support from a local MP models of working and the council, from risks attachedare helping with problem co-operative s in Waltham Forest, to self-emp workshops and food production.loyment to the cost of renting Lucy Clarke reports

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elf-employed people in Waltham Forest are new ways to work finding in a crucial step forward for entrepreneurs and business-m inded residents.

Waltham Forest Council on Invest Waltham Forest #4

Collaborative organisations such as the co-operat ive working space Indycube and the Blackhors e Workshop public facility are intent encouraging freelance on success across the borough.

Festivals, film, focused design

Summer 2017

UN DE R STAR TE RS OR DE RS

GA R D E N C I TY

BRICK BY BRICK Establishing the UK’s first garden city for more than 100 years

Nearby shop behemoth, Blueping is 20 years oldwater, this year. It has 330 stores, three anch stores, 40 cafes or restaurants andand 13-screen cinem a a

With the first tranche of homes already built, thousands more are planned

New communities are forged 18 as first-time buyers flock to Ebbsfleet

The Labour MP for Walthams tow, Stella Creasy, hopes projects run by organisations like these gateway for promoting will act as a membership among trade union north-east London the 16.5% of her work for themselve constituency who s.

Indycube, in partnershi p with the community trade union, is helping support Walthams to tow’s growing employed communit selfy.

Private/public: pulling forces

“A delight to work with such professionals across the whole team.”

Work is now under City, starting the way on the ambitious Ebbsfl eet Garden timer tickin numbers speak g towards completion. The for themselves The site’s first primary schoo l at Castle Hill, will open in Septe mber and operated by the Leigh Acade will be mies Trust

L I VE

Evening economy, established enterprise

Above: Indycube seeks to unionise self-employed people – such as graphic designers – to provide workers’ rights support.

EBBSFLE ET GARDEN CITY FACTS & FIGURE S

Issue 2

B UIL D

ISSUE 4

L E A RN

Industry experts collaborate to bring the project forward, as the first school opens

600 homes started in 2016/17 with over

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation on Ebbsfleet Garden City #2

YEARS

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since Ebbsfleet Development Corporation – oversee the Implementationing Framework – was established

completed

S U MMER

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•ORRERY•

•ORRERY•

Issue One

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“They understood what we wanted to create from day one, and have delivered a quality product.”

Marketing Derby on Orrery #1

B R I A N G R I F F P A T R O I N , N O F F O R M My photograph, A T morning for the ‘Rush Hour London Bridge’, was magazine Manage taken one story about people commuting ment Today, to illustrate a inspired by the German expressinto the City of London. It was a group of people ionist silent film marching to the ‘Metropolis’ – same place like automatons. briangriffin.co.uk

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Inside the min ds behind the success of one premier pho of the tography festi vals, FORMAT

Global connections UK’s

Fighting to break down the hierarch ies of an industry while working with an arts officer some of its most at the time. The respected represen inspiration was tatives is a challeng the city’s history not and heritage within ing prospect.

For Louise Fedotov-C photography, but the idea that lements, artistic the medium can director of QUAD, Derby’s “represent so centre for contemp different ideas many orary art and film of places, people and co-founder/dire and ways of seeing, ctor of Derby’s living and thinking international photography and ”. related media

festival, FORMA is what makes T, it the event unique.

“It is a very contemp

orary festival, but it also involves archives based on the heritage Collaboration of photography with photographers, around the world, from other artists and organisations whether it’s Africa, in Europe, Africa China, India or across Latin America and South America – as well ,” Fedotov-Clem as China and India ents adds.

– have created global recognit ion for the UK FORMAT is now festival. But Fedotov a major draw for Clements says it is paramount practitioners across the world. to maintain the It also seeks to original ethos, develop people’s established for understanding the inaugural and skills – not 2004; engagin event in just of photogr g with and encoura but of other contemp aphy ging participation from thousands orary and related media of hobbyists and as performance such locals alongside art, AR (Augme world-renowned nted Reality) and figures in the indu AI (Artificial Intellige stry.

nce). This is in addition to the biggest internati onal portfolio “We want people review program to feel like they for aspiring photogr me have a voice and be seen as part aphers worldwi of the festival, de. Participants can meet leading alongsid industry people, e some of the greatest practitio such as director of museums, lead ners in the world,” s editors of media Clements adds.

Fedotov“We show great and other established photogr art, but we want people to see there aphers, benefitin g from a rare is potential for chance to engage them to be part in one-to-one that as well. That of sessions. works on many

levels and it’s unusual. I think quite a lot of internat Derby is seen ional festivals as the ideal city nature have their of this for FORMAT. backs to everyda Clements says: Fedotovy people. We want “It allows us to people to feel give like they can collabor people a holistic view of the city. ate and be part We’ll be collabor the event, to have of ating with a partner fun and enjoy in Derbyshire it.” in the coming

months too, so will be able to people get out to the FORMAT is organise countryside.”

d by QUAD, and sup by the Arts Council ported , Derby City Council FORMAT 2019 takes place between University of Derby. I and the 15 March and 14 April. The theme t usually attracts 100,000 people around is FOREVER//NOW and is held at feature and it will exhibitio 15 or so venues ns, portfolio reviews, the city. Fedotov across -Clements founded workshops, events and masterc the festival with Mike Brown, who lasses. On the next pages, Orrery was working at looks at work the city council from previous contributors. as formatfestival.com •31•

london bridg

e Social Regeneration

southwark

Growth goals and Canada Water via Old London Bridge plans in place Kent Road: change for positive

l crowd The festiva , art Street partieshouse, fun trails, open Southwark at the fair: remember summers to

day Independentslocal Success for quirky traders, from ng eats, shops to inspiri business never better

happiness Health and lity, Reducing inequa to benefit regeneration nts – borough reside g and new both existin

the market Masters of modern, Traditional, undiscovered famous or to visit, – great places to engage fresh ways

ALL CHANGE

ark

southw Issue 19

Summer

It is a big year for London Bridge and environs its , as mix of proj a fascinating ects eme rges around the station tran 21 century Sarah Her sformation. bert repo rts

2018

LASTING IMPACTS 24 issue

Issue 19 2018 Summer

2017

19 summer

Southwark has some of the largest scale developments in London, and the council is determined to ensure regeneration provides genuine benefits for both new and existing residents. As such, it has adopted a mantra that its policy should not just be about constructing buildings, but creating strong communities. Lucy Clarke reports

2018

M, , DREAHT DANCE DELIG DARE,

, vision for local tradersdevelopment frame, boom of Festivals in the the social impact southwarkmagazine.com and prioritising setting

IN A BOROUGH storming ahead with some of the biggest development schemes in London, Southwark Council is introducing new ways to engage residents in plans for socially minded regeneration.

Ensuring all stakeholders have their interests heard and considered is of paramount importance to the local authority, as it aims to create life opportunities, improve wellbeing, reduce inequality and create engaged communities.

Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing, says Southwark Council has identified social regeneration as a major priority. And in the midst of £1 billion works with British Land – one of the largest property development and investment companies in the UK – it is determined to ensure no-one gets left behind.

“As we promote urban renewal, wellbeing will be at the centre,” Fenton says. “We’re not just focused on building new buildings but issue

southwa

“Well done to the 3Fox team for another great issue!”

Southwark Council on Southwark #19.

19 summer 2018 19

rkmagazine.com

18 11:11

22/06/20

issue

19 summer

2018 25

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39

Blackberry Hill

Bristol projects mapped out

Montpelier

Redland

Stapleton Road

Clifton Down

Chocolate Factory

ST PAUL’S

CLIFTON

Clifton Observatory

ST JUDE’S

Lawrence Hill

University of Bristol

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Finzels Reach

Huller & Cheese

Western Harbour

BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

PROJECTS

Glass Wharf

Temple Redcliff Quarter Quarter

Wapping Wharf SOUTHVILLE Bedminster

Parson Street

Filwood Park

Assembly Bristol Temple Meads Station

40

BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

TEMPLE QUARTER

Temple Quarter covers around 100ha of land in Bristol, with the historic Temple Meads station at its core.

It will provide employment, housing, leisure and educational opportunities, and includes an enterprise zone, which has already attracted 4,000 jobs and 300 businesses in the high-tech, creative and digital, low carbon, professional services and engineering and aerospace industries.

The project is a partnership of the city council, the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, Homes England, the University of Bristol and the Local Enterprise Partnership. The area could eventually provide several thousand new homes and 22,000 jobs.

Investment is already in place for Harbour Walkway, which will provide a new link to the Totterdown Basin area and beyond to St Philip’s Marsh.

The redevelopment of Temple Gate will create a better welcome for passengers arriving at Temple Meads, while the development of Engine Shed 2 will provide space for growing companies, building on the success of the original Engine Shed (see page 14).

Redevelopment of the station itself and improved access to the area would contribute to further growth, the council has said.

Work by Network Rail has identified the potential to create more than 10,000sq m of high quality commercial space within the station footprint.

An analysis by consultant KPMG for the council has said that the £300 million investment envisaged in Network Rail’s earlier masterplan could deliver £100-300 million in productivity improvements a year, driven by higher skilled jobs with the benefits of these ‘clustering’ around the station.

Outline planning permission, subject to Section 106 arrangements, has been granted for the University of Bristol’s £300 million Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, part of the overall redevelopment of the 2.8-ha area next to the station. A detailed planning application is to be submitted next year (see page 8).

GLASS WHARF

Glass Wharf, home to law firm Burges Salmon, is part of the overall Temple Quarter, where major office developments are in progress.

Contractor Wates Construction and developer Salmon Harvester Properties are developing Glass Wharf, which will provide 15,000sq m of category A office

41

Filwood Park, on Bristol’s southern outskirts, is a development of 150 homes by housebuilder Barratt Homes, built in collaboration with Homes England, which owns the site.

Homes will range from two-to-four bedrooms, with some overlooking a new park. So far, 10 have already been reserved and the show home will open in mid-September.

Filwood Park is close to Imperial and Hengrove Retail Park, the A4174 road and the city’s metro bus system.

Completion is expected in summer 2022.

HULLER & CHEESE

space for HM Revenue & Customs, as part of its regional centres programme.

Building work is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.

Wates also built the neighbouring 2 Glass Wharf development, occupied by tenants such as PwC, Grant Thornton, Foot Anstey and Arcadis Group.

Nearby, construction of the £140 million 4 Glass Wharf began in January.

Developer Generator South West has completed Huller & Cheese, a warehouse conversion of Huller House and the adjacent former cheese factory to provide 50 apartments and around 279sq m of riverside office space directly on the Floating Harbour.

Both structures have been rescued from the “Buildings at Risk” register, being two of the last waterside buildings to be restored, and incorporate many original features. Huller House has exposed brick and ironwork, while the cheese factory offers large windows and concrete columns.

Generator said it has achieved some of the highest values for apartments in the city – the site is only a few minutes’ walk from Bristol Temple Meads station.

The Floating Harbour is a manmade inlet, which is a destination for shopping, dining and waterfront living.

BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

FILWOOD PARK

WESTERN HARBOUR

The Western Harbour is a key part of Bristol’s floating harbour, an area known for leisure and entertainment and increasingly seen as a desirable residential development location, with views of Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Avon Gorge, Bristol Harbour, the city centre and the open space of Ashton Court.

It needs substantial infrastructure works, as the 1960s Western Harbour road system prevents development in the historic location.

The council’s investment brochure states that removal of the heavy road infrastructure and its replacement with less intrusive alternatives would release 15-20ha of developable land.

Bristol’s elected mayor Marvin Rees has spoken to developers about how, rather than simply replacing the 1960s swing bridge and flyovers, he wants “to be able to redesign the space, build thousands of homes and make the waterfront accessible to people”.

Rees said these ideas drew a lot of interest with developers, which were attracted by the area’s untapped potential.

Western Harbour has the potential to provide a vibrant quarter with homes, commercial and leisure space; the residential elements alone have a gross development value estimated in excess of £1 billion.

REDESIGN THE SPACE, BUILD THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND MAKE THE WATERFRONT ACCESSIBLE

43

The second phase of work has started at Redcliff Quarter, a £180 million regeneration project on 1.33ha, which has been derelict for 20 years.

The city centre site will include homes, cafes and restaurants, a hotel, a food court, shops and offices. This development is a joint venture between Change Real Estate, Cannon Family Office and ICG Longbow.

Change Real Estate director Ron Persaud, said: “Our vision for Redcliff Quarter is for a vibrant and inspirational development, influenced by the character and heritage of this historic area of Bristol. This is an area in great need of investment and care, having lain untouched for many years.”

The first elements of the project’s second phase will be two residential blocks with 118 flats for private rent. These will adjoin the homes completed in the first phase, which were bought for private renting by social landlord A2Dominion.

The new seven and eight-storey blocks will be on a new street running from Redcliff Street to St Thomas Street, which will be lined with restaurants and cafes and is expected to become a well-used walking route between Temple Meads station and the city centre.

In all, 317 homes are planned for the second phase, including a 22-storey tower. Construction will include glass that references to the site’s post-war industrial use by the Bristol Blue Glass and Pilkington glass works companies.

Existing streets around Redcliff Quarter will have pavements widened and although parking bays will be kept, the parking for the new homes will be underground.

Developers have estimated that up to 500 jobs will be created and an estimated £7 million a year contributed to the local economy once the development is complete. There will also be 1.858sq m of office space. A revised planning application for a hotel is expected to be lodged imminently.

REDCLIFFE WHARF

Generator South West is involved in a new mixed-use development at Redcliffe Wharf (below), which will provide residential, retail and business units, car and cycle parking, further along the Floating Harbour. The developer will make highway and infrastructure improvements and create a public realm with landscaping and boat moorings.

BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

REDCLIFF QUARTER

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FINZELS REACH

The 1.9-ha Finzels Reach scheme is among the region’s largest mixed-use regeneration projects and in September 2018 was sold to Royal London Asset Management for more than £62 million.

A £2.7 million S-shaped Castle Bridge connects Castle Park with Finzels Reach, knitting the site into the fabric of the city. Formerly a brewery and sugar refinery, the site was closed to the public for more than 200 years, but has been rapidly transformed over the past five years by Bristol-based developer Cubex, with funding partner Palmer Capital.

Since then, more than £110 million of office and residential space, and nearly £26 million of leisure space has been developed.

By 2019, around 2,500 people will be living or working at Finzels Reach, with 437 new apartments, alongside 22,300sq m of office space. A 168-bedroom Premier Inn hotel opened in 2017 and 2,787sq m of shops, restaurants and a microbrewery are planned.

The Aurora, an 8.825sq m office building is due to open this year. It is among the ‘greenest’ office buildings outside London, one of six in the UK to achieve a special BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating.

It is already 80% let to tenants law firm Simmons & Simmons and intellectual property specialist Mewburn Ellis. Bridgewater House’s 10,388sq m of offices are now fully let.

Residential development will range from the Hop Store, designated for affordable housing, to landlord Grainger’s 197-flats scheme, Bristol’s first major buildto-rent scheme. There are also 130 private apartments, almost all of which have been sold.

WAPPING WHARF

The second phase of Wapping Wharf has secured £23.4 million from Homes England, enabling it to go ahead.

Funding went towards the £43 million construction cost for developers Umberslade and Muse, which plan to build in excess of 250 homes.

Homes England’s Home Building Fund was used, which provides loans to help unlock residential and mixed-use housing developments.

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BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Plans have been approved for developer Generator South West to build 140 new homes, comprising 96 apartments and 44 houses, at the former Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory in Greenbank.

The site, which has been derelict for over 12 years, will be restored with a number of the original factory buildings designed by architect F. Shove, remaining intact. Generator will transform the original Victorian factory to the north of the site and will revive one of the oldest concrete frame factory buildings in the UK, built around 1915, into homes, commercial and community space.

The development will include around 1,394sq m of flexible work space, a cafe/bar and a community hub. A large open space at the site will also aim to enhance access to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, with a pedestrian and cycle path route to improve the experience for cyclists using the Railway Path. It is a route used by thousands every day for commuting and recreational use.

Preparatory site works started this summer with construction to begin in the autumn. An anticipated sales launch is set for spring 2019.

Building work has been started by contractor Balfour Beatty on two blocks of one, two and three-bedroom apartments – with the majority for sale – though 93 have been sold to Sovereign Housing for private rent and shared ownership.

Construction is due for completion in 2020. A further 81 homes, planned as affordable, will be built separately later.

There will be ground level car parking, bicycle storage and landscaping and the early 19th Century,

grade-II listed Gaol Gate and Gaol Wall structures have been stabilised to provide a pedestrian feature entrance, reflecting the area’s history.

Wapping Wharf’s first phase saw nearly 200 homes completed, together with a new retail quarter made from converted shipping containers.

This facility, named CARGO, has become a major attraction for both locals and tourists.

Wapping Wharf in April decided to extend the CARGO concept of

repurposing shipping containers for retail and shared work space.

Around 90 converted shipping containers within the long-disused J.S. Fry warehouse will offer workspace for 350 people in small and mediumsized businesses.

Wapping Wharf will ultimately feature 600 homes, and provide a new connection between south Bristol and the city centre following the opening of Gaol Ferry Steps, through the heart of the new neighbourhood. b

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BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

47

BRISTOL IS PROJECTS

ASSEMBLY BRISTOL

Work is expected to begin at AXA and Bell Hammer’s joint venture waterfront office development, Assembly Bristol, by late 2018. Described as a “flexible and smart” workplace, the 27,871sq m scheme is being marketed to occupiers by estate agent Savills. Located in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone (see page 40), one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects, it offers flexible workspace ranging from 418sq m to 2,112sq m.

The scheme is a five-minute walk from Temple Meads station, which serves trains to London and the southwest, and a short distance to retail hub Cabot Circus and the popular Harbourside area.

Environmentally efficient, with a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating keeping running costs low, the buildings feature high ceilings, natural light, integrated staircases and roof terraces. It is also accredited to the WELL standard for staff wellbeing. The first phase is due to be fitted out by the end of 2020.

The site is well served by bus routes, including a new Metrobus stop on Temple Way to open in late 2018. The scheme recognises Bristol’s vision to becoming the UK’s first ‘cycle city’. It caters to cyclists, runners, walkers with lockers, changing rooms, drying/ airing stations, maintenance areas and 258 secure cycle storage spaces. It also offers a Brompton hire scheme with lockers for fold up bicycles ready to use.

BLACKBERRY HILL

Work on transforming the former Blackberry Hill Hospital site in Fishponds is due to begin, with an increase in homes earmarked as affordable by developer Galliford Try. Approved by Bristol City Council in July 2017, a total of 346 homes will be created, including 129 flats inside the historic buildings of the former hospital and a further 217 houses and apartments on the grounds, along with retail and green space.

One hundred homes will be set aside for either social rent or shared ownership, under the affordable homes agreement with Sovereign Housing Association, which will manage the scheme, with the remaining 246 homes available on the open market.

North Bristol NHS Trust declared the hospital surplus to requirement in 2007, selling it to what was then the Homes and Community Agency (now Homes England) in 2009 for redevelopment into homes.

49

BRISTOL IS HOUSING

BUILDING CONSENSUS Increasing home ownership and ensuring inclusivity and diversity are high on Bristol City Council’s agenda, as Matt Ross reports

→

50

BRISTOL IS HOUSING

“

We’re keen to experiment in Bristol. We’re interested in new ideas: the city could become a focus of housing innovation,” says Councillor Paul Smith, the city’s cabinet member with responsibility for housing.

“We’re talking with the universities about intergenerational housing, mixing old and young people.

We’re looking at shared housing for graduates. We’re really interested in diversity in all its forms – in housing types as well as tenures.”

Bristol is a great place to live, says Smith, “architecturally, culturally, topologically”. But the city’s robust economy and its quality of life have a downside: strong demand has made house prices “unaffordable, even for many people on middle incomes” – leaving sections of the community “excluded from the housing market”.

Part of the solution involves broadening the city’s housing stock, creating “more choice in the market,” Smith explains.

“So we’re trying to encourage the construction of one and two-bed properties – then people in larger properties can downsize, making them available to families.”

The building of extra care homes for older people should also free up family properties: “We want to offer something so compelling that people want to move out of their current homes,” he adds.

Private developers, says Smith, will value the “assurance of continuity” provided by the 2016 election of Labour city mayor Marvin Rees, backed by a Labour-majority council.

“Bristol was a hung council, so we had huge instability; the mayoral system has brought stability and consistency,” he says. And Smith says the council will get firmly behind planning applications that meet its key goals, arguing that “local communities shouldn’t be in a position to veto new housing that is meeting the needs of the wider community.”

However, he’s clear that not all developments will meet those goals – which include the incorporation of social rented homes. “We’re pushing for as much new social rented housing as possible,” explains Smith. “Investors may not like our message about affordable housing – but they know there’s consistency; and they either cost that in, or don’t come into the city. We’re not short of people wanting to invest.”

Smith’s commitment to retaining the city’s social mix leaves him “very resistant to the idea of demolishing high-rise city centre estates and redeveloping with a smaller amount of social housing”. But many outlying estates lack the “density or diversity of population” to support strong local economies – and here, he’s interested in reconstruction schemes to

increase housing numbers and bring in homeowners.

The city’s efforts to improve its clogged transport infrastructure will create more opportunities. Many of its bridges and roads are, says Smith, “incredibly land-hungry; and by rebuilding them we can free up land for thousands of new homes, while making space for better public transport.”

Alongside private developers and housing associations, he explains, the council will itself get stuck into building those new homes – both directly, and through a council-owned company, which received the go-ahead in September 2018.

“The housing company will focus on sites that we own in the centre, and places where we can do land assembly by bringing a joint venture proposition to adjoining landowners,” Smith says.

He is also enthusiastic about the potential of communityled developments. Community organisations such as development trusts already have about 1,000 new homes in the pipeline, he says, and several are exploring off-site construction: one is consulting on a plan to establish a local housing factory and build homes between the semi-detached properties of willing residents.

This appeals to Smith’s ambition for Bristol to become “a centre for innovation” in off-site construction. “We see it as the major way of supplying housing in future years, and we’re talking to off-site manufacturers from across Europe and the UK. We’re giving space to try pretty much anything and everything,” he adds.

These new kinds of homes should bolster the council’s bid to broaden its housing offer, helping to ensure every resident can find an affordable, local property that meets their needs.

“People no longer expect to live in a single house for their whole life, any more than they plan on working for a single employer for their whole career,” says Smith. “They want to be able to move around, finding a home that suits them.”

To give people these choices, the council will build social housing in wealthy areas, while permitting the sensitive redevelopment of outlying council estates. It will encourage new housing models, such as extra care, intergenerational and shared homes. It will support new private homes, while ensuring that space is provided for existing residents. And it will back developers and housing associations experimenting with off-site construction and modular homes.

“We’ve got a lot of sites that could come forward if people can be innovative in developing them,” concludes Smith. “We really want people to come to Bristol and be wowed by the amazing range of housing here.” b

WE’RE KEEN TO EXPERIMENT IN BRISTOL. WE’RE INTERESTED IN NEW IDEAS: THE CITY COULD BECOME A FOCUS OF HOUSING INNOVATION

Clockwise from top New developments at Wapping Wharf; Councillor Paul Smith; a focus on quality architecture.

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BRISTOL IS ENVIRONMENT

53

Kirsty MacAulay reports on how Bristol’s ambitious environmental plans stand the city as one of the greenest in the UK

B

ristol has long been a trailblazer for all things green and sustainable. The city council implemented its first climate change action plan way back in 1988. In 2015, Bristol was declared the UK’s first European Green Capital, which gave the city a very clear focus, as well as a national and international reputation and also the confidence to do more. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, Bristol has now set its sights on achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Carbon neutrality might seem like a big leap, but the council’s previous target of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 was reached and exceeded by 10% a full three years ahead of schedule; illustrating just how committed Bristol is to a sustainable future.

The council decided to lead by example and dramatically reduced carbon emissions across its own stock, with initiatives ranging from solar panel installations on almost all municipal buildings, to upgrading light bulbs and improving household insulation.

The icing on the cake was the erection of two wind turbines in Avonmouth, providing enough renewable energy to meet the average annual electricity needs of 1,000 homes and prevent the emission of 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. And, making Bristol the only council in England with its own wind turbines.

Alex Minshull, city innovation and sustainability service manager, says: “Initially we looked at how we could encourage householders and businesses; giving advice and creating competitions. Then we got an EU grant and established the energy service looking at district heating and solar panels.

The grant gave us the money to scale things up and resulted in tens of millions of pounds being invested in projects.”

The stakes are getting higher with the pledge to create a carbon neutral city, and the council unveiled the City Leap prospectus in May 2018 to showcase how it hopes to realise its ambitions. The document details a series of opportunities for organisations, investors and innovators, of all sizes and sectors, to get involved with initiatives including energy efficiency, heat networks, flood defences, renewable energy, transport and marine energy to help Bristol achieve its sustainable ambitions, protect the environment and improve the quality of life for the people of Bristol.

“The City Leap prospectus builds on all that we’ve achieved so far,” says James Sterling, senior marketing and

communications officer at Bristol City Council’s Energy Service. “As we look at the scale of the challenge, we need to work in partnership with others and look at innovative ways of transforming our energy system. We’re open-minded about how this initiative could work and we were interested to hear from organisations of all types, particularly those that share our core values and can help to de-carbonise our city while improving the quality of life for local people” To speed up the process the council met with potential investors as they applied rather than wait for the August 2018 deadline set in the prospectus. This approach also allowed for an element of matchmaking by the council where investors weren’t necessarily the right fit for the project but could work well with another interested party.

Advertised locally, nationally and internationally, the project had interest from as far afield as America, Japan and Australia. The expression of interest was intentionally kept very simple with just two questions so the council could easily see which organisations were applying and what opportunities the applicants were interested in.

Sterling concludes: “This is a big step on the delivery plans for the next decade, to make the leap towards being carbon neutral. There is a lot of work to get us to 2050 – everyone needs to make a collective effort. It’s all about working together.” b Find out more: energyservicebristol.co.uk

Pictured from left Avonmouth Wind Turbines, built by Thrive Renewables; Heat Networks Redcliffe.

BRISTOL IS ENVIRONMENT

GREEN FOR GROWTH

54

BRISTOL IS SPORT

A QUESTION OF SPORT

Huub Neiuwstadt speaks to Stephen Lansdown, founder of Bristol Sport and majority shareholder of Bristol Rugby, Bristol Flyers, and Bristol City FC, about the future of sport in the city

What is Bristol Sport, and how does it help residents in the city stay healthy and active?

Bristol Sport was formed with a single-minded goal to inspire sport in Bristol and beyond. The £45 million investment to transform Ashton Gate into a multi-use stadium was a part of this promise. Football, rugby and basketball are all run commercially from the stadium, as well as it being our headquarters and of our sporting charities. These community trusts are delivering sport to some of the most deprived areas of the city and to all age ranges, from primary school children to the over 55s. The final week in May is our Celebration of Sport week, which brings together four sporting charities with festivals, exhibitions and activities taking place throughout the stadium.

Bristol was named European City of Sport in 2017. How has this impacted sports and leisure?

The fact that it coincided with our first full-year of operation as a newly rebuilt

stadium helped promote the idea that Bristol was finally taking sport seriously and actually looking at the economic benefits, as well as the health benefits that follow from being a sporting city.

You only have to look at the success of cities like Manchester to understand how much the perception of a city can be changed through sporting investment. I hope that Bristol will continue to build on this momentum and take developing sporting infrastructure as seriously.

Which sports are you particularly passionate about? How about Bristol as a city?

I have always had a passion for sport.

Whether playing in the local football leagues or going to watch City at Ashton Gate, the excitement and nerves on matchday have always thrilled me and still do. It was taking my son, Jon, to his first football game at Ashton Gate more than 25 years ago that really got me involved with Bristol City. From that followed the rugby [Bristol Bears]

and most recently my investment in the Flyers basketball team who play to sell-out crowds at the SGS Wise Arena in Filton. In truth, I enjoy all sport, but most importantly it is about having access, which is why the work that our community trusts do is so important.

What would the continued and sustained success of Bristol City FC and Bristol Bears rugby union team mean for the city?

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I want all of the sporting group’s teams to be playing in the top-flight. So far we have Bristol Bears (men and women), Bristol City Women and the Flyers (men) all playing in their respective top tiers. I’ve spoken often about Bristol City winning promotion to the Premier League. The Championship is probably the toughest league in world football and to win promotion is so incredibly difficult. I hope we will achieve that goal soon. The economic boost that would result would change not just the club, but the city as a whole. b

We are pleased to support

BRISTOL As a leading independent UK law firm that offers advice on many of the city’s most significant regeneration projects, we are pleased to support Bristol Is.

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Change Real Estate, with its partners ICG Longbow and CFO, are transforming this 3.3-acre site in the heart of Bristol’s historic trading district into a new neighbourhood for living, working, shopping and dining. Creating over 500 jobs and generating £7million for the local economy each year, this £250million development is setting a new benchmark for inner city regeneration.

Find out more at redcliffquarter.com

A development by Change Real Estate