Bristol City Council will soon search for an architect to draw up a £5.6 million masterplan for the Western Harbour redevelopment. There are plans for the area around the Cumberland Basin to be redeveloped with new homes and the ageing road network will be either repaired or replaced.
The council has asked for the £5.6 million from the West of England Combined Authority, which City Hall bosses admitted was a “significant amount of money”. Architects will then draw up how the area should be redeveloped, and what should happen to the road network.
Once Weca has agreed to give the council the cash, then an architect can be appointed for the controversial plans. Updates on the Western Harbour plans were given to the growth and regeneration scrutiny commission on Wednesday, March 22.
Read more: No money to fix ‘appalling’ Bristol bike lane along busy road near Temple Island
Speaking to the commission, John Smith, director of economy of place, said: “It is a significant amount of money for this type of work, but that’s due to the complexity of the site.”
It’s expected that the masterplan and infrastructure delivery plan will take about two and a half years to draw up. During this time the public and local residents will be consulted about their views on the Western Harbour.
The area is at risk of flooding, but the council is also planning to build new flood defences nearby. These could later be raised in 2060 as the risk increases due to climate change and rising sea levels.
Mr Smith added: “We’ve submitted a funding application to Weca for £5.6 million. That’s to fund the masterplan and an outline business case for an infrastructure delivery plan. That will support the renewal or replacement of the ageing road network. Alongside this there’s consultations planned so the community and the city can be informed at that stage.”
