New and improved plans for next phase of Wapping Wharf

The shipping containers may still be being removed from Wapping Wharf, but the new building that is set to replace them will bear more than a passing resemblance to what is currently here.

The new CARGO building on Gaol Ferry Steps will be two floors smaller than the original plans revealed for Wapping Wharf North, which were roundly criticised when they were unveiled in June 2022 for their excessive height.

A single storey has also been removed from one of the blocks behind M Shed, with four three-bedroom flats for social rent created within a scheme which will have 20 per cent affordable housing

Revised proposals for Wapping Wharf North see the CARGO building redesigned “to reflect the character of the existing shipping containers” with covered walkways and external staircases.

Existing restaurants and shops have been included in the computer generated images for the first time giving a tantalising glimpse into an exciting future for this corner of Bristol, including Box-E on the top floor of the building, Picole and Tare on the floor below, and businesses including Pizzarova and East Bristol Bakery within a redesigned foodhall to be known as CARGO Hall.

The CARGO development is currently made up of two floors of converted shipping containers – photo: Amelia Banfield

The CARGO building will have an external staircase and publicly accessible walkways – image: AHR Architects

“Wapping Wharf is more than just a physical building, it’s the community here,” said Box-E co-owner, Tessa Lidstone.

“The shipping containers were a surprise hit and an important stepping-stone for many of us starting businesses for the first time but we knew they were only ever a meanwhile use while the site got developed.

“There have been a lot of opportunities for our views to be incorporated into the new plans. Umberslade and the design team have taken the essence of who we are and put it into a new building.

“There’s still that strong connection between the businesses, the lovely walkways to encourage people to wander, the greenery, the pedestrianisation and the views south towards Southville and over the docks, which makes Wapping Wharf what it is.

“If you look at how the plans have changed, they’ve now got a lot of the CARGO personality in them.”

Current CARGO traders have helped design the new plans for Wapping Wharf North – photo: Amelia Banfield

The entrance to the foodhall will be on Museum Street – image: AHR Architects

Wapping Wharf developers Umberslade say that if approve, the plans for Wapping Wharf North “will secure the future of the CARGO independent businesses and create a go-to leisure destination on the city docks”.

“They will also provide much-needed sustainable new homes, shops, restaurants, takeaways and workspaces, together with generous landscaped public spaces, and more natural habitat for wildlife to improve biodiversity.”

Umberslade managing director Stuart Hatton said that following two years of consultation, the plans have been “significantly revised”.

“Feedback identified the need to retain the special character of CARGO, discussion about the height of some of the buildings and questions about how the landscaping would be delivered and maintained, all of which have been carefully considered and addressed by the design team.”

The cranes in front of M Shed are now Grade II-listed – photo: Amelia Banfield

A view of the proposed Wapping Wharf North behind M Shed and its famous cranes – image: AHR Architects

The four blocks, ranging in height from five to ten storeys, will contain 245 new flats with several shared landscaped rooftop gardens.

On the ground floor and first floor of these new buildings will be 5,000 sq m of flexible workspaces, with the Wapping Road end of the development planned to house a yoga studio with outdoor space, an indoor/outdoor gym and a nursery.

A new pedestrian route – a continuation of the recently opened Fry’s Walk – will link Rope Walk and Museum Street.

Rope Walk has a view of St Mary Redcliffe – photo: Amelia Banfield

Trees, seating areas and gardens will line Rope Walk, with the public areas between the new buildings featuring planter boxes and places for people to sit.- image: AHR Architects

Umberslade managing drector Stuart Hatton told Bristol24/7 that he has always wanted Wapping Wharf to be a highly sustainable neighbourhood where people can both live and work.

“We got a lot of feedback on our initial ideas and it was pretty balanced. We got some negative and we got some positive, I’d say it was around 50/50.

“We realised that we hadn’t got it all right. I think a lot of people shared our initial vision and we got a lot of good, constructive feedback.”

Gaol Ferry Bridge linking Wapping Wharf with Southville is due to reopen in September – photo: Amelia Banfield

The CARGO building will dramatically change the view down Gaol Ferry Steps from Cumberland Road – image: AHR Architects

Hatton said that he and the team at Wine Street-based AHR Architects have tried to respond to that feedback where possible “and actually what we have got now is far better than what we showed people a year ago”.

Hatton added: “I’ve always said that tall buildings are not bad. Bad buildings are bad. We have responded where we can so we have made changes to the height but our main vision remains a permanent, improved home for CARGO.

“The shipping containers are great. We love the shipping containers. But what we really love is the businesses that operate from inside them…

“For me, it’s about the businesses, the tenants, the great restaurants we have got, the great shops we have got. It’s about making CARGO better for them, a permanent home for them, understanding what they need to grow their businesses.

“We also want high quality places for people to live. Really good homes for everybody including affordable homes.”

The redesigned CARGO building at night next a ten-storey block of flats – image: AHR Architects

To find out more and to take part in the new consultation, visit www.wappingwharfnorth.co.uk

Main image: AHR Architects

Read next:

• M Shed’s historic dockside cranes become Grade II-listed
• ‘It’s a good design and a welcome addition if it’s just scaled down a bit’
• New Bristol developments accused of ‘greenwashing’
• Wapping Wharf shipping containers to be replaced by permanent buildings

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