The Western Harbour project area, why change is proposed, the vision, how to find out more.
Visit the Western Harbour project website Go to http://harbourhopes.co.uk (opens new window) for more news and information and to have your say on the draft Western Harbour masterplan.
The Western Harbour project area
The Western Harbour project area is at the western end of Bristol's Floating Harbour.
To the north, the boundary follows Hotwells Road, Dowry Place and Oldfield Place, and includes the elevated flyover system.
The central area includes the part of Spike Island west of Avon Crescent, Cumberland Basin and the Plimsoll Swing Bridge.
To the south of the New Cut the boundary follows Brunel Way and Jessop Underpass.
Western Harbour is part of a wider area identified in the local plan review for Growth and Regeneration.
We've worked with the city to create a vision for Western Harbour and through further community consultation and engagement, we want to create a masterplan to determine the future. This includes the:
- layout of roads, public spaces and buildings
- height and scale of buildings
- mix of uses
This process will inform the local plan review.
Western Harbour project area
Why change is proposed at Western Harbour
Aging infrastructure
We need to update or replace the Cumberland Basin road system, an important local and regional transport route.
As the infrastructure of this road has become older, maintenance is more expensive. We'll need to renew or replace large parts of the system in future. The Western Harbour project is an opportunity to make wider improvements to the area at the same time.
Housing
Bristol has a housing crisis, with around 16,000 people on the Bristol City Council housing waiting list in 2021. Western Harbour is a sustainable location for new homes.
Sustainable location
Western Harbour is mostly brownfield, previously developed land within walking and cycling distance of the city centre. This makes it a good location for:
- the homes, jobs and public spaces people in Bristol need
- meeting the challenges of the climate and ecological emergencies
- protecting greenspaces in and around the city
A vision for Western Harbour
No proposals have yet been designed for Western Harbour.
Broad principles for the area will be developed in the masterplanning stage, starting in autumn and winter 2023, informed by the commitments set out in the vision for Western Harbour.
The vision for Western Harbour was approved by Bristol City Council's Cabinet on 12 July 2022, following a public consultation carried out earlier that year.
Read the vision for Western Harbour
Visit the Harbour Hopes website Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/index.php?contentid=82 (opens new window) to:
- read the vision document
- find out what people said during the engagement programme held between September and December 2021
- find out what people said about the draft vision during the public consultation held between March and April 2022
The masterplan
We have appointed a masterplanning team lead by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands (LDS) to turn the vision for Western Harbour from broad principles into a long-term plan.
We'll be running public engagement on the draft masterplan from Tuesday 11 February to Sunday 9 March 2025, and want to hear what you think.
Visit the Harbour Hopes website Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/ (opens new window) to:
- look at the draft masterplan
- complete our survey
- find out about online and in person events and sessions where you can meet the team working on the project
Indicative project timeline
The following dates are a guide only and may change.
September 2021 to December 2021: Harbour Hopes engagement
- Bristolians asked what their hopes were for the future of Western Harbour
- Read the Engagement Report Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/report.pdf (opens new window)
10 March 2022 to 22 April 2022: draft vision for Western Harbour consultation
- Local people were asked for feedback on the draft vision for Western Harbour
- Read the pdfConsultation Report (pdf, 8.88 MB)
12 July 2022: Cabinet meeting
- The vision is approved by Bristol City Council's cabinet
- Read the vision for Western Harbour Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/index.php?contentid=82 (opens new window)
4 July 2023: grant offer considered by Bristol City Council's Cabinet
March 2024: appointment of masterplanning team
- Bristol City Council appointment of the masterplanning team
February 2024: refresh the Western Harbour Advisory Group
Summer 2025: complete Western Harbour masterplan
- The masterplan will include proposals for the area, developed alongside engagement with the community
Autumn 2025: Bristol City Council seeks further funding for key infrastructure projects
2026 and 2027: planning applications and approvals
- We'll develop details of a scheme for the area with ongoing consultation throughout
2028: work starts on the ground with a 6 to 10 year delivery timeframe
Western Harbour Advisory Group (WHAG)
The Western Harbour Advisory Group (WHAG) was set up in October 2019 and refreshed in 2024. They comprise a group of 15 community representatives from across the city.
The group will work closely with Bristol City Council and the masterplanning team to help shape the Western Harbour alongside the wider community.
For information and minutes of the group, visit the Harbour Hopes website.
Find out more
To stay up to date and get the latest information:
- sign up for updates on the Harbour Hopes project website Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/index.php?contentid=58 (opens new window)
- email us with questions or queries at hello@harbourhopes.co.uk