Bristol reveals plans for 1,200 new homes at Cumberland Basin, plus bridge replacement and garden center relocation.
Council members say these plans must happen. Flood defenses are needed near the harbor, and the flyover bridge needs full replacement. This work will cause traffic delays anyway.
They want to revamp the Cumberland Basin area. Flats with shops and cafes are planned, replacing the current road ramps. This area is now like a mini-spaghetti junction.
Drivers on Brunel Way won’t see huge changes. That road is the A370; a new bridge is the main difference. They hope to build it without closing the road.
Roads and ramps near the Basin will be removed. This makes space for flats and a new road, which diverts when Plimsoll Bridge opens.
Flats will be built where the garden center now sits. The Riverside Garden Centre stays, but it moves to a new building on the river. The car park will be smaller.
The road ramps stay mostly the same in Hotwells. New homes will fill spaces near the roads. Up to 1,200 new homes are planned in total, though earlier plans suggested 3,000 homes.
The city council unveiled this plan recently. It’s a draft masterplan, and another review will happen. The council needs money from various sources to fund the work.
The plan changed after feedback last fall. People wanted to keep the garden center and wanted the A370 road unchanged. They listened to residents’ concerns.
Ashton Meadows stays a green space linking parks to Ashton Court. The plan also focuses on housing needs, but these plans ensure warehouses stay dominant.
The masterplan considers drivers using the area. Keeping Brunel Way was popular, and plans add landscaping around the road. A single road replaces many routes, freeing up space for green areas.
The plan aims to improve access, create better paths for walking, and increase cycling around the area. A park by the river is also in the works.
The council noted there are still steps ahead, including bridge work that must happen first. They will continue to get public input, as the plan is still open for comments.
This plan is the most advanced so far, as earlier plans were withdrawn. People can share their thoughts in many ways by completing a survey online or visiting in-person displays to participate.
The council will finalize the masterplan later this year. They want to start work within two years, and complete construction should be done within ten years.