Resilient River Frome Enhancement Consultation 2025 - Riverside Park
About Riverside Park
Riverside Park is located in St Jude's, south of Junction 3 of the M32, close to Bristol city centre. The park is part of the Frome Gateway Regeneration Area which aims to support the delivery of thousands of new homes, including new affordable housing, alongside new workspaces, community services and upgraded infrastructure.
The River Frome runs in a channel along the east boundary of the park. Alongside the river, a pedestrian and cycle route forms part of the Frome Valley Walkway. The approved Frome Gateway Regeneration Framework includes aims to improve green and public spaces such as Riverside Park and to restore the River Frome as a thriving ecological corridor.
Why are we proposing changes to Riverside Park and the river?
When we engaged with local communities about the Frome Gateway Spatial Regeneration Framework in 2019, people told us they want to open up access to the River Frome within Riverside Park. The River Frome and Riverside Park were recognised as having huge potential to contribute more to public enjoyment, wildlife and climate resilience.
Further public engagement completed in 2023 showed continued support to clean up litter from the river, open up the riverbank, and improve people's access to walk along and sit next to the river.
We have secured grant funding from central government to manage flood risk in the Frome catchment and some of this money can be used to make improvements along the River Frome in Riverside Park. This money must be spent on this project, and it is not taking money away from other council priorities. You can read more about the government funding for this project in 'Further information'
We have developed concept designs for changes in Riverside Park that should reduce flood risk and create a better river environment and public space for local residents, businesses and people that visit the area. We want these changes to achieve the following:
Improve resilience to flooding and climate change
We propose to reduce the risk of flooding by making space for water during a flood and help the area to be more resilient to our changing climate.
Create a community space for existing and new residents to enjoy and to support local regeneration
We propose to:
- Improve the park so it's more attractive for everyone to spend time in and so it becomes a central feature of the regeneration area
- Encourage everyone to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors
Reveal the river and make it more visible
We propose to:
- Lower the walls alongside the river so that everyone can see the river from the footpath
- Create seating areas where people can look out at the river
Make the park feel welcoming and safe
We propose to:
- Encourage people to use the park more so that it benefits from natural surveillance and feels like a safer space
- Improve lighting (but use lights that are wildlife friendly)
Ensure the park is inclusive and accessible
We propose to make sure that new areas of the park are designed so they are accessible to everyone and usable by all.
Restore the health of the River Frome
We propose to:
- Improve access for teams to remove litter from the river. This will help to create safer habitats for wildlife and improve water quality by reducing chemicals leached into the water from litter
- Install oil interceptors onto highway drains that discharge into the river. This will help improve the water quality within the river
Improve biodiversity and opportunities for wildlife
We propose to:
- Prune trees on the riverbanks and remove invasive species so more light reaches the river and plants and wildlife can thrive
- Create new, diverse areas of marginal planting along the river edge and plant a wider range of trees within the park to support aquatic species and terrestrial wildlife
- Improve the culvert to enhance access for eels
Consultation events
You can attend the following consultation events:
- Sunday 8 June, 2pm to 5pm, come find us in Riverside Park Bristol to discuss the proposed changes to the River Frome and Riverside Park. Booking is not required.
- Thursday 12 June, 1pm to 2pm, book a place to join an online webinar to hear further information about the project and an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
- Wednesday 18 June, 12 noon to 6pm, visit an exhibition at Lost Horizon, 1-3 Elton Street BS2 9EH. Booking is not required.
- Wednesday 2 July, 11am to 12pm, book a place on a Riverside Park walking tour to discuss the River Enhancement project to find out more.
At our event at Lost Horizon, details of the proposals will be available on pdf consultation information boards(4.72 MB) .
Tell us what you think
In this consultation, we ask for your views on our proposals for improvements to Riverside Park and the river channel. Your feedback will help steer the next design phase.
This consultation is open from 2 June 2025 and will close at midnight on 14 July 2025.
Please take part in our survey and submit by 14 July 2025 to make sure your views are considered.
Alternative formats
If you need this survey in a different format:
- email: resilientfrome@bristol.gov.uk
- call: 0117 922 2848
A different format could be:
- a paper version
- Easy Read
- large print
- braille
- British Sign Language
- a different language
What happens next
All responses to this consultation will be analysed and the feedback will help us develop our proposals for Riverside Park and the river. A decision on taking the proposals forward to detail design will be taken in summer 2025 by council officers on behalf of the council’s Economy and Skills Policy Committee. The responses to this consultation will be considered when making their decision.
If the decision is taken to continue work on the proposals for Riverside Park, we anticipate the project would be completed by spring / summer 2027.
Further information
More information about funding for the project
In 2020, a government policy statement on flooding and coastal erosion was published, which sets out the government's long-term ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. To help work towards this, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) created a £200m flood and coastal resilience innovation programme (FCRIP).
In 2022, Bristol City Council, along with its partners South Gloucestershire Council, Wessex Water and the Environment Agency were successful in obtaining £6 million in grant funding to deliver the Resilient Frome project. The Resilient Frome project focuses on innovative ways to manage flood risk across the whole of the Frome catchment, from the source in South Gloucestershire through to central Bristol.
How this project links in with the wider Frome Gateway Regeneration Framework
This project is closely linked to the vision for regeneration of the St Jude’s area which is set out in the Frome Gateway Regeneration Framework.
The Frome Gateway Regeneration Framework, which was endorsed in 2024, is being used to guide the delivery of thousands of new homes as well as workspaces, community facilities and public spaces to better meet the needs of the local community and the city. The Regeneration Framework is available on the council’s website. The Regeneration Framework recognises that the River Frome and Riverside Park are valuable natural assets but notes that there is huge potential to further improve both the river and the park so that they can contribute more to public enjoyment, wildlife and climate resilience.
Why improvements to the river and park are coming forward, when there are lots of other priorities in this area
The Frome Gateway Regeneration Framework aims for the river and the park to be a focal point around which new housing and employment development is focussed. Creating an attractive setting for the regeneration area is therefore very important.
The improvements proposed as part of this project works are being funded by the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. The funding is for enhancements that will make the local area more resilient to the effects of flooding and climate change. This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver real improvements to the river and the park as one of the first phases of the Frome Gateway Regeneration vision.
Why money is being spent on these improvements when the council must make cost savings elsewhere
This money available through the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme is allocated specifically for improvements to the River Frome and to tackle climate resilience and nature recovery. It cannot be spent on other council priorities therefore this project is not taking away from other spending needs.
How we will ensure these proposals will result in a better overall environment (especially when some trees have to be removed)
An important aim of this project is to deliver overall improvements for nature and biodiversity. The project will create new areas of planting and will introduce more variety of planting into the river corridor and the park, which will provide more habitat for wildlife. The designs have been carefully drawn up to minimise impact to existing trees. However, we may still need to remove some trees, fewer than five. These will be replaced in line with the council’s tree guidance. Overall, there will be more trees, and a greater mix of tree types once this work is complete.
How we will ensure the new spaces, plants and seating areas will be well maintained
Bristol City Council will continue to be responsible for maintaining the park. New areas of planting and seating will be carefully planned and designed to ensure these can be appropriately maintained into the future.
How we will ensure the new public spaces don’t encourage or attract anti-social behaviour
By creating an overall improved park, we expect we will see more people using it. The aim is to create a space which benefits from more footfall and natural surveillance, and this should help to make the park feel safer and discourage anti-social behaviour. As part of the improvements, we propose to install new lighting which will also help.
How the proposed improvements will be accessible to all
The proposed designs for the park aim to be accessible to everyone. By lowering the wall and replacing this with railings more people will be able to see down to the river. Importantly, we will ensure new paths and seating areas are accessible to people in wheelchairs and with buggies. We have been working with the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL), a user-led organisation to ensure our designs meet the needs of disabled people and we will continue to seek their advice as this project progresses.
New wildlife and fauna the new habitats could help to support
We aim to plant new flowering and pollinator plants within the park. Along the river corridor, we aim to plant more greenery along the river edges to help provide a more natural connection between the river and the riverbank. This will create additional habitat for invertebrates and terrestrial species.
How it will remain safe along the riverside if we are going to remove the wall
The existing high wall means that many people can’t see down to the river. A key aim of this project is to lower the wall so that the river can be seen and enjoyed so it feels like part of the park. The wall would be replaced with railings. As shown in the visualisations provided this would be designed so that people cannot access the river and to meet relevant safety standards.
How these improvements will help with flooding
By opening up / widening the river channel for the seating terrace, additional space for water is created by enlarging the river channel. The seating terrace will also provide an opportunity to improve access into the river for maintenance operatives. This will enhance the maintenance programme for this section of the river into the future. Furthermore, replacing the stone wall with new railings will remove the risk of potential future blockages to the river channel and downstream culvert from the stone wall.
Key dates
- Start date: 2 June 2025
- End date: 14 July 2025
Documents
pdf Consultation information boards(4.72 MB) used at events.