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 emerging ideas for the 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

Map of the 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. 

We also need to incorporate flood defences proposed in the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy which will protect the whole city from flood over the next 100 years.

The Western Harbour project is an opportunity to address these issues and make wider improvements to the area at the same time.

Housing

Bristol has a housing crisis, with around 21,600 households on our waiting list for social housing, along with over 1,600 households in temporary accommodation in 2024. 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 sets out key commitments that will guide the transformation of the area as it changes in the future. It was based on engagement carried out in 2021 and 2022. Broad principles for the area are being developed in the current master planning stage. These have been 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 masterplan.

We'll be running public engagement from 21 October to 15 November, and want to hear what you think.

Visit the Harbour Hopes website Go to https://harbourhopes.co.uk/index.php?contentid=82 (opens new window) to:

  • find out more about the ideas that could shape the masterplan
  • complete our survey
  • find out about in person events and sessions in which you can meet the team working on the project

Project timeline

The following dates are a guide only and may change.

September 2021 to December 2021: Harbour Hopes engagement.

10 March 2022 to 22 April 2022: draft vision for Western Harbour consultation.

12 July 2022: Cabinet meeting.

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

March 2024: refreshed Western Harbour Advisory Group established.

Autumn 2024: engagement on the emerging ideas that could shape the masterplan.

Winter 2025: Western Harbour masterplan drafted which will lay out detailed proposals for the area.

Spring 2025: consultation on the draft masterplan for Western Harbour.

Summer 2025: finalise masterplan for Western Harbour.

  • the masterplan will develop detailed proposals for the area, alongside consultation 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 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 role of the group is to help shape the Western Harbour alongside the wider community.

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 both the refreshed 2024 group and the older 2019 group visit the: Harbour Hopes website.

Find out more

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