Evidence used for the Local Plan
Planning evidence
We use studies and assessments to make decisions about our planning policies.
Land use, development and planning policy research
Research into land use, development and other planning policy issues is carried out by our Strategic Planning team.
This includes Bristol City Council’s annual Development Monitoring Report, Residential Development Survey and Business Development Survey.
Design and conservation
You can find some documents that we use as evidence on the Conservation pages.
Central Area Context Study
This study from September 2013 has information on the historic development of Bristol and changes that have affected the central area of the city:
- Central Area Context Study: Chapters 1 to 3 (pdf, 5.2MB) (opens new window)
- Central Area Context Study: Chapter 4 (pdf, 10.9MB) (opens new window)
- Central Area Context Study: Chapters 5 to 6 (pdf, 2.3MB) (opens new window)
Economy and employment
The Bristol employment land study (pdf, 5MB) (opens new window) looks at employment land demand and supply.
To see economy and employment evidence about the wider region, visit the West of England Combined Authority website.
Our note on employment land evidence (pdf, 162KB) (opens new window) outlines the context in which this study can be considered and how we will progress work on this topic.
If you need these documents in an alternative format, email jack.allan@bristol.gov.uk
Flood risk
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
The SFRA looks at how likely it is that different parts of Bristol will flood in the future.
SFRA Level 1 reports have an overview of the flood risk in Bristol:
- Citywide SFRA Level 1 report from December 2020 (pdf, 1.8MB) (opens new window)
- SFRA user guide (pdf, 121KB) (opens new window)
- Functional floodplain with river network map (pdf, 8.9MB) (opens new window)
- Historic flood map (pdf, 1.1MB) (opens new window)
- Sequential Test, 2080 Flood Zone 3 map (pdf, 16.9MB) (opens new window)
- Sequential Test, 2120 Flood Zone 3 map (pdf, 31.4MB) (opens new window)
- Sequential Test, present day Flood Zone 2 map (pdf, 13.9MB) (opens new window)
- Sequential Test, present day Flood Zone 3 map (pdf, 13.6MB) (opens new window)
- Surface water flood risk, 2080 map (pdf, 19.2MB) (opens new window)
- Surface water flood risk, 2115 map (pdf, 18MB) (opens new window)
- Surface water flood risk, present day, 30 year return period map (pdf, 15.1MB) (opens new window)
- Surface water flood risk, present day, 100 year return period map (pdf, 23.3MB) (opens new window)
- Surface water flood risk, present day, 1000 year return period map (pdf, 20.5MB) (opens new window)
SFRA Level 2 reports have more detail about areas in Bristol:
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Level 2 summary report from February 2011 (pdf, 5.6MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA technical report (pdf, 1.7MB) (opens new window)
There are maps that go with the SFRA technical report:
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figure 1.0 (pdf, 1.8MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 2.1 - 2.5 (pdf, 7.3MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figure 3.1 (pdf, 1.8MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 4.0 - 4.15 (pdf, 15.5MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 5.0 - 5.12 (pdf, 18.9MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 6.0 - 6.10 (pdf, 9.1MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 7.0 - 7.5 (pdf, 18.6MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 7.6 - 7.12 (pdf, 16.3MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 7.13 - 7.19 (pdf, 15.2MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth/Severnside SFRA Figures 7.20 - 7.21 (pdf, 15.8MB) (opens new window)
To obtain flood depth information from the Avonmouth Severnside SFRA flood model, for planning application and other purposes, use the Avonmouth Severnside SFRA Flood Depths web map.
Central Area Flood Risk Assessment
This is a study on tidal and river flood risks in Central Bristol that we made with the Environment Agency.
You can look at a summary report of the Central Flood Risk Assessment (pdf, 7.2MB) (opens new window) . You should use this alongside the SFRA as this has the most up to date information for the centre of Bristol.
To get the information used in the study, email the Environment Agency at SouthWestEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP)
We’ll use the SWMP to help us deal with flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
The SWMP model summary (pdf, 1.3MB) (opens new window) has details of the flood modelling conducted.
If you need this information in an alternative format, email flood.data@bristol.gov.uk
There's information on parts of Bristol that have the highest risk of surface water flooding contained in the Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment report and accompanying surface water flood risk maps found above.
Housing
We carry out assessments of housing need and of sites in Bristol that might be suitable for different types of housing:
- Bristol Urban Potential Assessment: February 2018 (pdf, 909KB) (opens new window)
- Strategic Housing Market Assessment at the West of England: Executive summary (pdf, 831KB) (opens new window)
- Strategic Housing Market Assessment at the West of England: Full report (pdf, 3.7MB) (opens new window)
- West of England, Housing Need and Affordability Assessment May 2005 (pdf, 884KB) (opens new window)
- Gypsy and Traveller Accomodation Assessment 2020 (pdf, 2.6MB) (opens new window)
- Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) 2009 (pdf, 7MB) (opens new window)
- Student Accommodation Topic Paper July 2014 (pdf, 1.2MB) (opens new window)
If you need an assessment in a different format, email blp@bristol.gov.uk
Infrastructure
The Avonmouth infrastructure study looks at flood risk, ecology and transport in the Avonmouth and Severnside area:
- Avonmouth and Severnside Integrated Development, Infrastructure, and Flood Risk Management Study April 2012 (pdf, 10.4MB) (opens new window)
- List of Appendices for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 19KB) (opens new window)
- Appendices 1 to 5 for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 11.2MB) (opens new window) (Appendix 4 to be added at a later date)
- Appendices 6 to 10 for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 9.8MB) (opens new window)
- Appendices 11 to 15 for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 9.6MB) (opens new window)
- Appendix 16 for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 18.8MB) (opens new window)
- Appendices 17 to 21 for the Avonmouth Infrastructure Study (pdf, 9.6MB) (opens new window)
- Avonmouth Severnside Outline Development Strategy Report April 2012 (pdf, 2MB) (opens new window)
Natural environment
The Parks and Green Space Strategy (pdf, 2.9MB) (opens new window) has information on how green space in the city should be used.
Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project
This project looked at what areas of land would be suitable as a habitat for wetland birds:
- Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project Stage 1: Distribution of wetland birds within the study area (pdf, 492KB) (opens new window)
- Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project Stage 2: Review of consent at Severnside and Avonmouth Impact Assessment (pdf, 1.2MB) (opens new window)
- Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project Stage 2: Figures (pdf, 13.6MB) (opens new window)
- Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project Stage 2: Appendices (pdf, 2.1MB) (opens new window)
Shops and shopping centres
The South Bristol Retail and Centres Study (pdf, 10.4MB) (opens new window) has information on retail needs and town centres for the south of Bristol.
City Centre Retail Study
This study looks at how we can meet the needs of city centre retail development:
- City Centre Retail Study Stages 1 and 2 (pdf, 2.5MB) (opens new window)
- City Centre Retail Study Appendices (pdf, 7MB) (opens new window)
- City Centre Retail Study Explanatory Note (pdf, 653KB) (opens new window)
Sustainable energy and design
- Bristol Citywide Sustainable Energy Study (pdf, 7.9MB) (opens new window)
- West of England cost of carbon reduction study: Non-technical introduction (pdf, 148KB) (opens new window)
- West of England cost of carbon reduction study: Full report (pdf, 1.3MB) (opens new window)
- Carbon offsetting in the West of England (pdf, 2.4MB) (opens new window)
- An evidence based strategy for delivering zero carbon heat in Bristol (pdf, 2.9MB) (opens new window)