People who live or work in Totterdown and Windmill Hill are being asked for their views on proposals to make it easier to park in these two areas.
New Residents' Parking Schemes (RPS) are being proposed across these neighbourhoods to help:
- prioritise parking for people who live locally
- reduce commuter parking on residential streets
- improve traffic flow and reduce congestion
- support local transport and street improvements, such as tree planting
Issues with parking have been consistently highlighted as a priority for residents during conversations and engagement with the community in south Bristol, including the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation in 2025. When residents were asked whether they supported an RPS in their street or nearby, 58 per cent agreed in Windmill Hill and 57 per cent agreed in Totterdown.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: "We know parking is an important issue for many people living in Totterdown and Windmill Hill.
“These proposals are designed to help residents park closer to their homes, reduce commuter parking on residential streets, and help create streets that are safer and easier for everyone to use.
“We are also conscious that the wonderful new student accommodation along with the low-parking Bedminster Green developments, are likely to put even more pressure on parking in our residential streets. In recognition of this, both developments have contributed to the start-up costs of the Residents' Parking Schemes.
"We are now asking local people, businesses and community organisations to consider the detailed proposals for their streets and tell us what they think. Their feedback will be vital in helping us shape schemes that work for the local community."
The council is suggesting that both parking schemes would run from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 6pm.
During these times, a valid permit would be needed to park on local streets. These include a resident, visitor, medical and social care, business, customer, trader or landlord permit.
There would also be spaces for pay and display parking, where a ticket would be needed, including when taking advantage of the 30-minute free parking offer.
Blue Badge holders do not need a permit or ticket as they can park for free without a time limit in RPS areas and pay and display bays.
Signage would be used to explain the parking restrictions.
The Totterdown and Windmill Hill surveys are the first in a series of consultations the council is running on proposals for new parking schemes across Bristol. Starting in south Bristol, consultations will be held in the coming months on proposals for:
- Residents' Parking Schemes in The Chessels and Parson Street and Ashton Gate
- Matchday Parking in Ashton Vale
- Extending the operating hours for existing Residents' Parking Schemes in Southville and Bedminster East
More information will follow as each consultation is launched.
The Totterdown and Windmill Hill RPS surveys are open until midnight on Thursday 5 November 2026. Find the surveys online in the New RPS Consultation Hub at www.bristol.gov.uk/new-rps
Drop-in events
To find out more about the proposals, see the plans, and discuss them with council officers, drop-in to the following events:
- Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian Street, Bristol BS3 4LW on Thursday 8 October from 4pm to 8pm
- The Harbour Totterdown, 7 Bushy Park, Totterdown, Bristol BS4 2EG on Thursday 15 October from 10am to 2pm
- Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian Street, Bristol BS3 4LW on Thursday 22 October from 10am to 2pm
- Totterdown Baptist Church, Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2AX on Tuesday 27 October from 4pm to 8pm
Plans for safer, greener and healthier neighbourhoods across south Bristol have been updated, reflecting the feedback to the council's wide-reaching consultation in 2025.
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) proposals have been revised, with the council focussing on updated measures across Southville and Totterdown and new plans for high streets, such as North Street, Cannon Street and Lombard Street.
The updated proposals, plans and visualisations of what the scheme could look like can be viewed on the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods website.
The project aims remain the same, to make streets safer and calmer for pedestrians and cyclists, with a focus on School Streets. Aims also include improving air quality and creating new community outdoor spaces.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “We have listened to the feedback and have revisited our designs to simplify routes for local people. Our updated proposals will still mean fewer vehicles using residential streets, particularly around the new School Streets in Southville.
“The changes will make it easier for Blue Badge residents to access Totterdown and Southville and for the emergency services to respond to any incidents across these areas.
“We have heard loud and clear that people are concerned about road safety along North Street and are proposing a series of changes to make junctions and crossing the road safer. We're aiming to start some of this work later this year, while we continue drawing up the detailed designs for the main SBLN scheme.
“We are working with local communities and businesses in Totterdown on designs for new public spaces, to make sure we get them right for the area. Transport officers have also recently worked closely with emergency services, to understand how the overall scheme would change their access and refine the plans.”
Plans to change parking restrictions across the project area will also be taken forward. These include new Residents' Parking Schemes in Windmill Hill, Totterdown, Ashton Gate, and The Chessels with Parson Street, and a Matchday Parking Scheme in Ashton Vale.
Detailed plans and options for these parking schemes will be shared in the coming months when consultations for each scheme are launched.
Other changes, which are part of the SBLN programme, include investigating where more than 200 trees could be planted, adding dropped kerbs and tactile paving to make crossing the road more accessible, and adding new e-scooter and e-bike hire parking bays, along with other improvements.
Some early work is set to get underway in the coming months. This includes starting the process to introduce a School Street at Ashton Gate School, trialling side road zebra crossings on North Street, improving North's Street's junction with Gathorne Road, and installing around 20 cycle hangars across the wider SBLN area which covers all three BS3 wards.
There will be statutory consultations for the Traffic Regulation Order-dependent elements of the scheme early in 2027 before any permanent changes are made. This will be a further opportunity to support or object to specific changes to roads, such as traffic filtering measures, changes to the direction of traffic, and the bus gate.
The updated SBLN plans, including new maps for Southville and Totterdown and visualisations of what the changes could look like, are available on the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods website.
Councillor Plowden said: “I acknowledge and apologise for the uncertainty caused when the maps and other details were made available online prematurely. I and the other ward councillors have been working hard since then to try and release the details as soon as possible, while at the same time making sure that we are satisfied with the updated proposals.”
The council's Transport and Connectivity Committee will consider the next steps for the main SBLN scheme in December. If approved, it would be submitted to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to seek the funding to build the scheme.
Main changes to the proposals
Southville:
- Reducing the number of modal filters from 12 down to 7 and using camera enforcement for 5 of these, to allow more flexible access for authorised and exempt vehicles, including the emergency services and Blue Badge holders.
- Moving the locations of some of these modal filters to simplify trips that start and end in the neighbourhood.
- Changing from a modal filter on Walter Street to a banned right turn, meaning drivers would only be able to turn left onto Coronation Road.
- Improving Coronation Road's junctions by adding signalised crossings at Clift House Road and Beauley Road, to make it safer to walk, wheel, cycle and drive into and out of side roads.
- New School Streets, which prevent through-traffic at drop-off and pick-up times, at Ashton Gate Primary School's Ashton Gate Road site and Southville Primary School on Myrtle Road.
- Improving public spaces on North Street and at both ends of East Street.
North Street:
- Improving and upgrading three junctions, including at Cannon Street, Luckwell Road and Gathorne Road, to make them safer for all road users.
- Trialling side road zebra crossings, which reinforce pedestrian right of way on side roads, including on North Street's junctions with Raleigh Road.
- Making North Street more attractive to spend time in by adding seating, trees, planting areas, visitor cycle parking and more.
Totterdown:
- Dropping plans for one-way roads across the area.
- Moving the proposed bus gate on St Lukes Road to just north of its junction with Hill Avenue and adding four bus stops for the number 16 bus.
- Installing a camera to enforce the timed morning closure on Cambridge Street onto Bellevue Road.
- Exploring how to improve existing crossings on St Johns Lane at its junctions with Wedmore Vale and Montgomery Street/Ravenhill Road.
- Exploring options with residents and businesses to improve a small section of William Street.
- Retaining plans for a banned left turn from Bath Road into Angers Road.
- Retaining plans to work with businesses and residents in the area to design new public spaces on a section of Oxford Street next to Totterdown Square.
Funding
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods project has been funded to date by the UK Government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Consultation feedback
Feedback to the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation is outlined in the SBLN Consultation Report. Further questions can be emailed to liveableneighbourhoods@bristol.gov.uk
More information
To find out more about South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods visit www.bristol.gov.uk/sbln and to stay up to date with news sign up to the SBLN newsletter.
17 August 2026
Representatives from Avon Fire and Rescue Service, Avon and Somerset Police, South West Ambulance Trust, Bristol City Council's Emergency Preparedness team worked together alongside the council's Engineering Design team to test the proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods.
The exercise set out to make sure all emergency service vehicles can navigate the proposed routes without delay when responding to incidents across the area in the future.
Participants ran through scenarios using purpose-built rooms and technology that allowed them to be immersed in the scenario, which resulted in changes being made to proposed designs.
This collaborative approach added new depth to scenario planning and council officers came away with a better understanding of the considerations the fire, ambulance and police services have during an emergency response.
14 August 2026
This summer, two Bristol creative partners, Future Places Toolkit and Knowle West Media Centre, brought local people into conversations about south Bristol streets and public spaces.
Participants of all ages, including primary school pupils, residents, local businesses and representatives from WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living) took part in creative workshops to explore what makes a place welcoming, accessible, safe and distinctive.
Future Places Toolkit used a live illustrator to draw in real time so participants could see their ideas for the street through augmented reality. This was done by using a camera phone to see objects placed onto the street, to help imagine the future.
Knowle West Media Centre worked with children and young people from south Bristol to think about fun and creative ways to make school streets safer, and more welcoming to all.
This work is linked to the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods and Whitehouse Street regeneration programmes, which both focus on creating attractive, safer and more inclusive places for local communities.
Ideas gathered will inform future design work, infrastructure planning, business cases and funding bids later this year.
A big thank you to everyone who took part and shared their creativity, insight and lived experience.
Feedback to the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) consultation has been brought together in the SBLN Consultation Report.
There were more than 4,000 responses to the consultation that was held towards the end of last year on proposals across 11 neighbourhoods in south Bristol.
Proposals include:
- introducing parking measures
- changing some traffic movements
- creating better local transport options
- making roads safer
- improving high streets, areas near schools, and local centres
The changes are designed to make local streets healthier, greener, more accessible and pleasant.
Data collected before the consultation and more recent monitoring shows that key roads across the SBLN area, such as Raleigh Road and St Luke's Road, are unsuitable for active travel routes that share space with vehicles on small residential streets, because of the number of vehicles and the speed they are travelling at.
Access the SBLN traffic monitoring summary map.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “At the start of this project, we heard from stakeholders and residents who told us that they want safer, greener, quieter streets, less traffic, and better conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling. These are reasonable desires for any community to have for their neighbourhood, and our plans have been designed to create healthy environments where everyone feels safer and more connected.
“I want to thank everyone who shared their views on our proposals for the area - from families and local schools to residents' groups, faith organisations and disabled people's groups. Your input has been invaluable, and the Consultation Report brings all this feedback together and will help us refine the final plans for the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme.”
Key results set out in the report are that Residents' Parking Schemes are broadly supported, with 52 per cent of respondents agreeing with plans, especially in neighbourhoods closer to the city centre.
A Matchday Parking Scheme was supported near Ashton Gate Stadium, but less so in other areas.
Half of respondents agreed that speeds and volume of traffic on residential streets should be reduced, rising to 70 per cent on streets near schools and local centres. However, specific proposals for Southville and Totterdown were less popular.
Many people supported suggestions to add street trees and greenery, as well as new pedestrian crossings and other measures to make it easier and safer to cross the road.
In response to the report, Councillor Plowden said: “This feedback has given us an invaluable local steer, and we are responding by simplifying plans for Totterdown and Southville. This includes removing some of the proposed one-way streets and measures that prevent through‑traffic while maintaining access for pedestrians and cyclists.
“We'll share these updated plans in the coming months, ahead of Transport and Connectivity Committee making a decision in the autumn on whether to take the whole scheme forward and further chances to have your say on the proposals.”
In the meantime, the council will be carrying out some early work in south Bristol, including:
- Trialling eight implied zebra crossings on side roads with North Street – these feature white, parallel stripes painted on the road, but they do not have the beacons (lights) at either end and reinforce pedestrian priority.
- Building out Gathorne Road's junction with North Street and adding an implied zebra crossing, to improve road safety and give more space for outdoor hospitality, cycle parking and planting. Gathorne Road will remain open to one-way traffic.
- Starting the process to introduce a School Street at Ashton Gate Primary School (Ashton Gate Road site) with a timed closure at school drop-off and pick-up times.
This early work is programmed in to start in the summer holidays onwards to reduce disruption. It will be funded using Clean Air Zone income and Section 106 money secured from nearby developments.
The early work will also include installing more than 20 cycle hangars across the SBLN area, using Active Travel Funding secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
These early works will be followed by a £700,000 programme of tree planting in Southville and along North Street in the winter tree planting season.
Councillor Plowden added: “Recent collisions on North Street, which tragically resulted in the death of a cyclist, show just how important good road design is, alongside responsible driving. As part of the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods project, we are bringing forward early work to make it safer and easier for people to enjoy all that North Street has to offer, while developing longer-term plans to address road safety issues. This includes proposals to change the layout of some of North Street's main junctions, to improve sight lines and make this busy high street safer for all road users.”
The council is developing proposals for new Residents' Parking Schemes in Windmill Hill, Totterdown, Ashton Gate, and The Chessels with Parson Street.
Based on responses to the consultation, schemes will not be taken forward in Totterdown East, Perretts Park or Malago Vale, however, a Matchday Parking Scheme is being proposed for Ashton Vale.
Consideration is also being given to extending the operating hours of the existing Residents' Parking Schemes in Southville and Bedminster East.
Detailed proposals for each area will be published, with public consultations taking place over the summer and autumn, before any final decisions are made.
To find out more about South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods visit www.bristol.gov.uk/sbln and sign up to the SBLN newsletter.
Download the SBLN Consultation Report and download the Easy Read summary of the SBLN Consultation Report.
Notes
The aim of Liveable Neighbourhoods is to make streets healthier, more accessible and more pleasant by:
- putting people first – reducing traffic and lowering vehicle speeds to create safer, more welcoming and accessible streets. Vehicles would still be able to access all properties at any time, though some routes may change.
- prioritising health – improving air quality and allowing more people to choose physically active travel options, like walking and cycling, and be safe doing so. This also frees up the roads for people that really need them, like delivery drivers, tradespeople and disabled people.
- making better community spaces – designing calmer streets and greener areas where people can relax, children can play, and families feel safe travelling to school.
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods project has been funded to date by the UK Government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The 11 neighbourhoods within the SBLN project area include:
- Ashton Gate
- Ashton Vale
- Bedminster East
- Malago Vale
- Parson Street
- Perrett Park
- Southville
- The Chessels
- Totterdown
- Totterdown East
- Windmill Hill
There is a particular focus on the Totterdown, Southville and Bedminster East neighbourhoods, because of the number traffic concerns, the level of support for change expressed in the 2024 engagement stage, how close they are to the city centre, and their strong links to the transport network.
North Street side road implied zebra crossing locations:
- Raleigh Road x2
- Lime Road
- Exeter Road
- Truro Road
- Greville Road
- Ashton Gate Road
- Greenway Bush Lane
Locations for proposed longer-term changes to North Street:
- Crossings and road safety improvements for North Street, focusing on junctions with Luckwell Road, Frayne Road/Coronation Road and Dean Lane.
- Improving sightlines and pedestrian crossings at roads adjoining North Street
Proposed longer-term changes to Coronation Road:
- Adding double yellow lines to improve sightlines at road entrances, to make it easier to turn onto Coronation Road.
- Adding traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings on Coronation Road, which would also make it easier when driving from a side road onto Coronation Road.
4 September 2025
An 8 week consultation giving people the opportunity to feedback on the proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) has opened today (4 September 2025). The consultation on the proposals will remain open until midnight on 30 October 2025.
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) project covers a large area of the Bedminster, Southville, and Windmill Hill electoral wards.
Liveable Neighbourhoods aim to make streets healthier, more accessible and more pleasant by:
- putting people first – reducing traffic and lowering vehicle speeds to create safer, more welcoming and accessible streets. Vehicles would still be able to access all properties at any time, though some routes may change
- prioritising health – improving air quality and allowing more people to choose physically active travel options, like walking and cycling, and be safe doing so
- making better community spaces – designing calmer streets and greener areas where people can relax, children can play, and families feel safe travelling to school
The proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods cover the 11 neighbourhoods in SBLN area, however, this phase of the project also has a particular focus on the Totterdown, Southville and East Bedminster neighbourhoods. These neighbourhoods have been prioritised due to a number of traffic concerns, the level of support expressed in the 2024 engagement stage, their closeness to the city centre and strong links to the existing transport network.
The proposed measures across the 11 neighbourhoods in the SBLN project area include introducing parking measures, changes to traffic movements, improving local transport options, better road safety and improvements on high streets and places where there are schools and local centres.
Feedback from last year's engagement, which was used to inform the proposals, can be found in the SBLN Engagement Report.
The consultation survey is split into two parts: part A covers the area-wide proposals across all 11 neighbourhoods and part B focuses on specific changes proposed for Totterdown, Southville and Bedminster East.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “Thank you to all residents and businesses that took part in our engagement period last summer. Your feedback has been instrumental in us developing the proposals for South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods.
“I am pleased to say that the proposals are now live and a consultation to gather your views on them is now open.
“The proposals we are putting forward aim to make South Bristol a safer and healthier place to live, with quiet streets that are less congested and polluted. They would make it easier to travel by bus, walk and cycle, with a particular focus on making sure children can get to school safely. These proposals would still see all areas of the neighbourhoods accessible for motorised vehicles and Blue Badge holders, but routes may change.
“We recognise that the topic of Liveable Neighbourhoods generate strong and differing views. While some welcome the changes, others have concerns about how Liveable Neighbourhoods might affect daily life. This is why we're taking all possible opportunities to learn from previous projects in the city, observe how these schemes are being introduced elsewhere in the country and gathering as many views as possible to evolve designs to meet the community's needs.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible during this consultation. Evidence from other schemes in the UK shows that, although these schemes can take time to settle in, they often bring lasting benefits to communities.
“We want the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods project to be shaped by the community. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation to share their thoughts on the proposals. Your input will play a vital role in how the project comes to life.”
Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said: "Now is the time for people in south Bristol and beyond to have their say on the council's Liveable Neighbourhoods proposals. Your voice needs to be heard in this consultation – whether you live or work in south Bristol, or if you visit including City and Bears fans heading Ashton Gate every other week.
"People's feedback over the next eight weeks will be a key part of how the combined authority assesses this bid. Lessons need to be learned from the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial and other similar projects here in the West."
The proposals and consultation survey can be found on the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods Ask Bristol website. The consultation closes at midnight on 30 October 2025.
Accessible formats of the survey are available, including Easy Read versions, British Sign Language video, large print, braille, and translations. To request an alternative format, email liveableneighbourhoods@bristol.gov.uk or call 0117 903 6449.
Information sessions to find out more about the proposals are also taking place across South Bristol during the eight-week consultation.
To receive the latest information on the SBLN project, subscribe to the project's newsletter.
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood consultation is being funded by the UK Government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods (SBLN) engagement report has been published following the engagement stage which took place in the area last summer. The engagement stage saw a high number of people take part, with over 1,500 people submitting responses.
pdf South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Engagement Executive Summary(1.15 MB)
pdf South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Engagement Report(16.35 MB)
The engagement was the first step in the SBLN project and gave people the opportunity to express their thoughts as well their ideas for the area.
The SBLN project covers the majority of Bedminster, Southville and Windmill Hill wards. The idea behind Liveable Neighbourhood projects is that streets are for everyone. The SBLN project aims to make streets healthier, more accessible and more pleasant by putting people first. Less traffic and slower vehicle speeds, streets will be safer and more accessible, and there will be greater consideration for pavement space and condition. Liveable Neighbourhoods prioritise health so everyone can breathe cleaner air and have the opportunity to choose physical active travel options like walking and cycling and be safe doing so. They also allow for better spaces for communities, so people have calmer streets and green spaces to enjoy and play.
Last summer, South Bristol residents and businesses were asked to give their views on the area using an interactive map. Thousands of comments were received on the interactive SBLN map, and at the end of the engagement the map had received 6,081 comments from 1,562 people. The online survey which went alongside the interactive map had a further 513 submissions. Over 12,000 open text responses were also submitted.
The comments left on the map suggest the top three issues are:
- Speeding traffic
- Problems with car parking
- Not safe for cyclists
And the top suggestions from participants for how the area could be improved are:
- Safe crossings and junctions
- Managing unsafe vehicle speeds
- Managing on-street car parking
- Wider / clearer pavement
- Priority to cyclists and pedestrians at side roads
The feedback received during the engagement stage is currently being used to develop proposals for addressing the issues raised. These proposals will include measures to reduce, slow and redistribute traffic away from residential streets, as well as measures to make walking and cycling safer, easier and more enjoyable.
The date for the next stage in the SBLN project, which is a public consultation on the proposals, is to be confirmed.
To receive the latest information on the SBLN project, subscribe to the project's newsletter.
11 July 2024
We launched the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods engagement on 11 July 2024.