Western Harbour
Western Harbour
Western Harbour regeneration engagement, proposed timeline of the project and information about the Western Harbour Advisory Group.
The Western Harbour area
Western Harbour is the area (jpg, 2.4MB) (opens new window) around the Cumberland Basin, which stretches from Baltic Wharf in the east to beyond where the River Avon meets the floating harbour in the west.
To the south, the area follows Coronation Road and Clift House Road then continues to take in the A370 Jessop Underpass and A3029 Brunel Way and extends west to the Portishead railway line.
To the north of the Plimsoll Swing Bridge, the boundary follows Hotwells Road, Dowry Place and Oldfield Place.
The opportunity
Western Harbour is a key area in the continuing regeneration of Bristol’s city centre and the floating harbour.
It’s a significant gateway to the city, within a historic and landscape setting, and has the potential to grow and thrive as a new city quarter.
There's a need to modernise parts of the ageing road network which will cost approximately £40 million, and provides an opportunity for change in the area.
Western Harbour has been identified as one of the Growth and Regeneration Areas in the Local Plan Review (2019).
The Local Plan sets out the intention to develop Western Harbour as a new city quarter to create:
- a mixed and inclusive community
- a diversity of land uses
- opportunities for new homes, workspace, leisure and services
There's an opportunity to unlock space to build sustainable and affordable homes close to the city centre, create new job opportunities, provide sustainable travel options, create good quality public space for all Bristol residents and improve access to the water. This will support Bristol’s economy by improving connections between homes, jobs and the rest of the city.
The regeneration must also address flood risk and the climate and ecological emergencies.
Find more information and help to explain some of the thinking behind the project in our frequently asked questions (pdf, 619KB) (opens new window) .
What's happened so far
To help us better understand what options were available for Western Harbour’s transport network, a Transport Feasibility Study was prepared.
The study assessed 10 approaches to replace the ageing road network around the Cumberland Basin with new routes across the River Avon. From this study, in August 2019, we asked for initial views from the community on the three approaches that it considered most viable.
This engagement was designed to inform further thinking about the area before any significant work was done, but we realise that this was not well received.
The council has recognised that we need to take a step back and look at aspirations and a vision for the area in collaboration with local and citywide communities. You can find a summary of the responses in our Western Harbour engagement report.
Bristol Local Plan Review
In spring 2019, a public consultation on the Bristol Local Plan Review took place which included consideration of policy D4: Western Harbour.
Formal consultation has concluded on the latest draft of the Local Plan Review (pdf, 7.8MB) (opens new window) .
Find out more about the Local Plan Review.
Engagement moving forward
We have listened to your feedback, and we're developing a programme of engagement to ensure greater involvement from citizens and businesses.
The focus will be to develop a shared vision for the area working collaboratively with citizens. The co-created vision will set out the aspirations of the community, council and city for the future of Western Harbour.
The vision will then underpin the next design phase of the project and its future delivery.
It's likely that this first phase will start in Summer 2021.
Any further consideration of road network changes will be done as wider plans for the area are developed.
Indicative timeline
2020/21: early engagement to get your views
Start of the formal development process
2 years
- masterplan development in collaboration with communities, businesses and stakeholders
2 years
- scheme development
- planning applications, funding and delivery route
6 years plus
- scheme delivery
- works start on the ground
Sharing your views
There will be many opportunities to share your views throughout the project.
You can also share your views using our online feedback form. The feedback will be checked regularly and will feed into the Western Harbour project development. If you'd like to be kept up to date as the project progresses and be part of any future discussions please provide your contact details even if you don't want to make a comment.
Find out what people have said so far (pdf, 158KB) (opens new window) .
Western Harbour Advisory Group
The Western Harbour Advisory Group was established in October 2019. It includes local community representatives, businesses and other interested parties. The role of the group is to help shape the Western Harbour alongside the wider community. As agreed by the Advisory Group, the Terms of Reference, agenda, attendees and notes from the meetings will be published.
Western Harbour Advisory Group: minutes of meeting, 22 February 2020 (pdf, 81KB) (opens new window)
Western Harbour Advisory Group: minutes of meeting, 29 January 2020 (pdf, 56KB) (opens new window)
Western Harbour Advisory Group Terms of Reference (pdf, 98KB) (opens new window)
Western Harbour Advisory Group agenda (pdf, 86KB) (opens new window)
Western Harbour Advisory Group meeting notes, 22 October 2019 (pdf, 175KB) (opens new window)
Western Harbour Advisory Group meeting notes, 27 November 2019 (pdf, 54KB) (opens new window)
Connected projects across the city
There are several other projects that are taking place across Bristol, all of these relate to Western Harbour’s regeneration proposals at some level as they do to other areas across the city. These will be integrated and form part of development discussions and proposals as they comes forward.
Air quality
Air quality in the central area of Bristol is above legal limits. We have an ambitious plan to tackle this.
Air quality in the central area of Bristol is above legal limits and we're looking at ways to tackle this. To find out more visit the Clean Air for Bristol website.
Harbour operations review
There is a wider review about to take place focused on the operational needs of the harbour, and what happens to Western Harbour is an integral part of that.
River Avon Flood Strategy
Flooding from the River Avon is a risk within and around the waterways of central Bristol. A long term strategy for managing the risk from the River Avon has recently been consulted on and responses and a report is going to Cabinet on 9 March 2021.