Plans for new seven-acre University of Bristol campus evolve

A series of events and exhibitions, as well as an online survey, will be held between now and 1 May to gather feedback on the development of a new seven-acre campus in the heart of the city, to the east of Bristol Temple Meads station.

Phase one of the public consultation focuses on the detailed design of the student residential accommodation, located on part of Temple Island and the University will also be sharing an update on the proposed layout of the whole site.

A second public consultation will follow in the summer, which will include the detailed design of the academic buildings and public spaces on the site of the former cattle market and sorting office, which is currently being demolished.

Since the University secured conditional outline planning permission in July 2018, it has been working with communities, businesses, Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority to shape its plans for the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

A number of changes have been made following feedback. These include all student accommodation being located on Temple Island; two buildings on the Cattle Market site, instead of three, to allow for more public spaces; and better pedestrian and cycle paths through the site.

Student accommodation is arranged in three buildings up to 21 storeys high and designed to wrap around a central courtyard. A total of 953 bedrooms are provided on the first floor and above with student wellbeing and future flexibility being key themes in driving the design.

The ground floor of the buildings, which will be metal clad to reflect the industrial heritage of the site, will feature a 24-hour student hub along with associated commercial outlets, such as shops, bars and cafes. Student wellbeing has underpinned the overall design of the buildings, with the inclusion of a large communal roof terrace, gym, outside spaces for fitness and studying, and a biodiversity roof.

The overall development, which is part of the wider regeneration of the Temple Quarter area, will unlock new routes into and through Bristol Temple Meads station, as well as creating new walking and cycling routes to better connect East Bristol with the city centre.

The University’s latest plans illustrate its vision to create a campus which is open to everyone and embedded in the life of the city. This will be achieved through the opening of new food and drink outlets, and a programme of social and cultural events to help create a lively and welcoming atmosphere.

Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor for New Campus Development, said:

“The development will be one of the city’s most significant regeneration projects in recent history and we welcome people’s feedback as our plans take shape.

“Our goal is to create high-quality spaces for everyone to enjoy, whether living, studying, working, socialising, visiting or passing through the campus. We’ve revised our plans to add more focus on the public spaces and to allow better routes for pedestrians and cyclists to move through the site.

“The wider regeneration of the Temple Quarter area is really exciting and will transform a neglected area into a vibrant and inclusive city district. We hope the campus will create a dynamic ecosystem for knowledge creation, enhancing Bristol’s reputation as a global destination for inclusive innovation.”

The campus, which aims to welcome its first students in 2022, will be at the forefront of digital and management research, education, skills and innovation. It will provide teaching, research and innovation space for some 800 staff, external partners and 3,000 students.

In addition to the construction work and the wider economic impacts, it is estimated that the new campus will generate over 1,300 new jobs, directly and indirectly.