Some of the historic buildings and bits of harbourside furniture could get fresh protection from Historic England before the Cumberland Basin sees thousands of new homes and a new road layout.
Historic England, the Government’s heritage authority, has launched a review of the Cumberland Basin, to check which buildings and infrastructure there already have listed building status, whether that needs updating and whether there’s anything else that should be protected.
A vast area from Hotwells on the north bank of the basin, across to the 19th century homes of Avon Crescent and the bonded warehouses, all the way to the other side of the New Cut at Ashton Meadows, has been designated a redevelopment area that the council is calling ‘Western Harbour’, with plans to create a new suburb of Bristol.
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The council has asked the West of England Combined Authority for millions of pounds to draw up a ‘masterplan’ for the ‘Western Harbour’, after a number of aborted and controversial attempts to get the design process started. With huge changes looming, Historic England said it wanted to completely review everything that is there now, to see what was of heritage value enough to be listed and protected.
“Bristol is a city of extraordinary history, vibrancy and diversity, and the regeneration of Western Harbour is a unique opportunity for the city to thrive and grow in a way that celebrates its heritage,” said Rebecca Barrett, the regional director at Historic England. “Our review will uncover what’s special about this historic part of Bristol, to help tell the stories of its past and to shape its future,” she added.
Historic England said the review will be independent of the council, and will help to inform the preparation of the masterplan. It will involve updating the existing list entries, and consider other buildings and structures in the area for listing. “Local stakeholders will be consulted on proposed new or amended listings, to gather feedback on the historic or architectural interest of the buildings and structures,” a Historic England spokesperson explained.
The consultation will run from February 27 to March 26, and after the consultation period, Historic England will submit its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for final decisions.
A lot of the Cumberland Basin area is already listed by Historic England. The quay walls and bollards around the basin itself are Grade II listed, as are the locks and bridges originally built by Brunel a generation after the Floating Harbour was created.
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Buildings like the three bonded warehouses on either side of the New Cut, the Nova Scotia and the cottages around the docks are also listed, with the Underfall also scheduled as a protected area.
But the 1960s road network of concrete bridges, ramps, flyovers and dual carriageways on either side of the Cumberland Basin itself, and on the south side of the New Cut at Greville Smyth Park are not listed - and the proposal is to radically reform the road network, freeing up land for new development.
The review by Historic England has the backing of the Mayor Marvin Rees. “The regeneration of Western Harbour needs to address some of the biggest challenges facing Bristol while celebrating Western Harbour’s heritage, safeguarding treasured assets, and making sure the infrastructure and Bristol’s flood defences are fit for the 21st century,” he said.
“I welcome Historic England’s work to review the current listings to ensure we have a clear understanding of the significance of our historic assets in the area to inform the future masterplan,” he added.
Read more on 'Western Harbour':
- Feisty residents of Hotwells tell Mayor to think again on Western Harbour project
- ‘Humongous threat’ to city as £81 million extra funding needed for Avon flood works
- 'Plasticine planning' - what the first 'Western Harbour' workshops were really like
- Council refuses to rule out developing Ashton Meadows parkland
