News / Temple Island
More on future vision for Temple Island revealed
With the dust now settled on heated debates over the future of Temple Island, further details on alternative proposals for the site have been revealed.
Legal & General (L&G) first went public with plans for a mixed-use development on the derelict land near Temple Meads in August 2018 – just two weeks before the mayor officially scrapped the long-held vision for an arena on the city centre patch.
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is needed now More than ever
Read more: It’s official: there will be no arena at Temple Island
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A report outlining more on the proposed development, comprising 550 homes – 40 per cent of which would be affordable – two office blocks, retail units, a hotel and conference centre, will go to Bristol City Council’s cabinet on July 2.
Members will be asked to give approval for “continued discussions” between the council and investment management company L&G, which will have exclusive development rights over the site if an agreement goes ahead.
The council bought the seven-acre site for £13m in 2007 and millions more has been spent on supporting infrastructure – including £11.3m on Brock’s Bridge.
Cabinet approval is now being sought to commit a further half-a-million-pounds, required to “support the progression of development proposals”.
The newly-opened St Philip’s Footbridge leads to a fence, behind which is the site formerly known as Arena Island
The papers state: “Temple Quarter is changing rapidly, and an opportunity exists for the area to become part of the extended city centre and to facilitate improved connectivity to the city from the residential communities to the east.
“There is therefore a significant opportunity for the city council to capitalise on current momentum and likely future investment in the Temple Quarter by enabling the delivery of a landmark mixed-use development on Temple Island.”
If the strategic partnership with L&G goes ahead, papers state the council would have limited control over how the site is developed.
It would also take on responsibility for sub-letting one of the office blocks as part of a 250-year sub-lease contract in which it would pay rent to the company for a 40-year term. This is expected to provide a source of income, but officers warn it could potentially place a “significant financial burden” on the council if tenants are not secured.
The cabinet report reveals there has been interest from hotel and conference centre operators, whose input will be key to shaping the development of the site.
Papers state alternative ways of developing the site have been considered, including a straight land sale, a joint venture arrangement or an OJEU procurement process, but the arrangement with L&G is considered by officers to be the best option to expediate delivery of the site and mitigate the risks to public money.
They say it would “secure an exceptional development and funding partner with a proven track record of regeneration delivery and ample funding”.
L&G has stated the intention to deliver the initial phase of residential buildings on site with at least 40 per cent affordable housing.
The company is behind another major scheme at Temple Quay that includes provision for just four affordable homes after winning an appeal against the council.
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Read more: Central development with only four affordable homes will go ahead
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Green mayoral candidate Sandy Hore-Ruthven has already responded to the report, slamming the proposals as “poor value for money” and a “naive approach that is more risky than the original arena plan”.
Legal & General’s early vision for Temple Island
The proposed partnership between the council and L&G would be a five-year, non-legally binding agreement to deliver a set of objectives for the site, which would include the affordable home provision.
It is still early days for the plans. Officers note the initial images of what the scheme might look like are “highly indicative”, with further work need to refine the layout and appearance of buildings to create a development that is “both commercially attractive, but also sympathetic to Bristol and its character”.
A more detailed report is expected to go to cabinet late this year or early 2020.
Read more: Further details revealed of Arena Island plans with no arena
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