News / Temple Quarter
Bristol Temple Quarter gets £95m of government funds to level up
‘Bristol’s biggest regeneration project’ has won £95m from the government as part of its ‘levelling up’ project.
The regeneration of Bristol Temple Quarter scheme will see the overhaul of Temple Meads station, with new entrances built connecting it to what will be the new Bristol University’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.
Some 10,000 homes and 22,000 jobs will also be created through the project.
is needed now More than ever
Funds will support the development of sites behind the station, regenerating approximately 130 hectares of brownfield land – equivalent to about 182 football pitches. This includes the old gas works site and Temple Island.
The £95m of government funding will go towards the first phase of the scheme, with future plans in phase two to develop land across St Philip’s Marsh.
?️ Delighted to secure £95m for #Bristol Temple Meads + @TempleQuarter, having worked on this since 2017
? This will help double Temple Meads’ capacity to 22m passengers a year
? This next phase will deliver 2,500 new homes + 2,000 new jobs
? https://t.co/JDYwHjVKNH pic.twitter.com/8AhRfTu01s
— Marvin Rees (@MarvinJRees) June 10, 2022
Whitehall’s funding decision to transform the area around Temple Meads over the next 25 years was long-delayed – with concerns mounting that the massive project will stall if they keep waiting.
But on Friday, the announcement was made by levelling up minister and Conservative MP Neil O’Brien, who was visiting the city.
He said: “Building new homes in the places they are most needed and regenerating our towns and cities lies at the heart of the government’s levelling up mission.
“It’s fantastic to be in Bristol today to see this levelling up in action; the central government working with local leaders and industry to grow the economy, delivering the high-quality new homes this country needs and breathing new life into neglected places.”
The scheme is part of a partnership between the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, Network Rail and Homes England – image: Network Rail
Today’s announcement follows plans to enhance powers for local authorities to assemble sites for regeneration and make better use of brownfield land.
The aim of levelling up is to give people and communities that feel they have been left behind a chance to catch up.
Mayor Marvin Rees said: “The partnership has brought forward a realistic, integrated vision to create a thriving new area of the city that will be key to Bristol’s and the city region’s journey to becoming an inclusive and sustainable economy, boosting Bristol’s role as a major driver of the city region and Western Gateway economies.
“This funding will unlock the infrastructure and public spaces needed to support further delivery on homes, jobs and inclusive growth and will underpin Bristol’s connectivity, sustainability and path to carbon neutrality.”
The development of Bristol Temple Meads station is expected to enable it to double its capacity to 22 million passengers a year – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Council ploughs ahead with Temple Quarter regeneration
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