Bristol is crowned best city in Europe

Release Date: 27-Nov-2008

Bristol was last night (Wednesday) crowned European City of the Year after scooping a prestigious award from a think tank that champions great place-making.

The city won the European City of the Year category at the annual awards held by the Academy of Urbanism, whose 100 members include industry-leading architects, planners, engineers, developers and designers.

The city, which beat off competition from finalists Manchester and Newcastle at the awards held in St George’s Hall in Liverpool, was singled out for:

A strong city-region economy, including a dynamic business sector and a skilled workforce
A distinctive sense of place and history
Superb quality of life and a vibrant culture
Green credentials, including quality open space and a base for environmental organisations such as the Soil Association, Sustrans and the Environment Agency
A focus on mixed-use developments, including sustainable transport, as well as good transport links

Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “This is brilliant news for Bristol and puts our city at the forefront of action to create more sustainable cities. This leadership role will enable Bristol to make further progress in enhancing our high quality-of-life and in promoting sustainable, long-term growth.

“Above all, it's another major recognition of the everyday efforts made by so many residents; businesses sustainability organisations and our academic institutions to make Bristol an even better place.”

John Thompson, Chairman of the Academy of Urbanism, said: “It has won because of its overall quality of life and opportunities, plus they’re making a significant effort on sustainability issues, which we were very impressed with.

“It has transformed itself and become a very good place to be - it has a pretty vibrant economy and is well-placed for all sorts of reasons.”

Chris Balch, one of the panel that assessed the European City finalists, said: “Bristol is a vibrant and cosmopolitan European city - its international profile reflects a rich fusion of cultural heritage, surrounding natural beauty and a bustling mix of communities. Importantly, Bristol’s residents feel relatively safe by comparison with other cities.”

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