News / wapping wharf
Bristol’s shipping container revolution expands into office space
The concept behind Bristol’s thriving Cargo development at Wapping Wharf could be applied to provide much-needed office space.
Under new proposals, 90-odd converted shipping containers will be installed within the walls of the disused J S Fry warehouse building near the Louisiana, on the corner of Wapping Road and Cumberland Road, to create a contemporary co-working hub.
Stuart Hatton, director of Umberslade, the developers behind Wapping Wharf said the idea came about in response to the deluge of requests for flexible work space in the area. He hopes to replicate the same sense of entrepreneurial spirit and mutual support that has seen Cargo 1 and Cargo 2 thrive.
Under the plans, the existing listed warehouse walls will be restored, with the co-working space for up to 350 people built inside.
Some car parking will be provided, along with a café area with outside seating, a shower suite, 24-hour access, a drying room, lockers and secure bicycle store for more than 70 bikes.
The space, which will feature an atrium and decking on the roof, is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, including freelancers, clusters of people wanting to work collaboratively and entire office teams.
Stuart Hatton
Hatton said: “It’s fantastic to see that CARGO at Wapping Wharf has become so popular. Quite apart from the shipping containers, what makes the place unique is the extraordinary community of business people based there and how they support each other.”
“We hope to replicate that sense of entrepreneurial spirit and mutual support in this new co-worker space, having had numerous requests for work space at Wapping Wharf.
“What’s more, the Fry’s warehouse has stood empty for many years so it’s particularly exciting to think we can bring jobs and economic opportunity back to a place with such a strong industrial heritage.”
Plans to transform the warehouse plot, that has stood derelict for years, comes as the £43m second phase of the harbourside regeneration project is set to get underway next month.
A consultation on the plans launched this week, prior to finalising the scheme and submitting planning and listed building applications. An existing planning consent is already in place for a previous office scheme on the site.
The documents and questionnaire can be viewed on the Wapping Wharf website.
Read more: Wapping Wharf phase two gets go-ahead
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