Western Harbour regeneration

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 Development Framework. 

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 and along Coronation Road. 

Western Harbour is part of a wider area identified in the local plan review for Growth and Regeneration. 

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 over 22,000 households on the Council housing waiting list. 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

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

Western Harbour Advisory Group (WHAG)

The Western Harbour Advisory Group (WHAG) was set up in October 2019 and refreshed in 2024. The group comprised of 15 community representatives from across the city.

The group worked closely with Bristol City Council and the design team to help shape the Western Harbour proposals alongside the wider community.

For information and minutes of the group, visit the Harbour Hopes website.

Find out more

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