News / Western Harbour
‘No existing plan’ for Western Harbour
Recruitment of new members to the Western Harbour Advisory Group will be starting within the next couple of weeks.
The group was previously criticised as being packed with people close to mayor Marvin Rees, including the leaders of his own church in Hotwells.
But it will still be led initially by previous chair John Savage, a non-exec director at Business West and chair of Visit West.
is needed now More than ever
Emily Price, Bristol City Council’s regeneration manager, said: “We are keen to find people to join and work with us and the professional teams to bring your views and your lived experience and diversity of thought to the process…
“We’ll be focussing and looking for people who can bring ideas and passion about the themes that are set out in the vision…
“We are committed to making sure that we listen to the voice of citizens and the community, and we want to make sure that the project team and the master planning team are shaping a place with people in mind, and who better to talk to than the people who live in the city at the moment.”
Price said that she is “keen to get a mix of organisations representing local community groups and citywide interests as well”.
The Western Harbour development is centred around Cumberland Basin – photo: Martin Booth
Price joined Bristol City Council’s head of planning, Simone Wilding, at a public meeting at Trinity Church in Hotwells on Wednesday evening organised by the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association.
Almost exactly four years ago, Rees had stood in the same church where he met residents for the first time to talk about his plans for the area.
But it was made clear that the previous plans which Rees presented, including controversial ideas for new road layouts, had been entirely scrapped.
The exiting road system was largely constructed in the 1960s – map: Bristol City Council
Roads remain a key concern for residents, with Price saying that a master plan to be developed over the next year will “determine what can be done with the roads and what the best solution can be and work out what happens around that”.
Price added: “Just to clarify, there isn’t an existing plan. We don’t have a plan for Western Harbour. There isn’t a plan that has been agreed…
“We want to explore what the options are. We need to make sure that they are deliverable and viable.”
Initial plans for the Western Harbour saw the removal of the Plimsoll Swing Bridge – photo: Martin Booth
One resident who lives within the plans for the Western Harbour area claimed that the development “will blight our lives if you don’t recognise that there is an existing community”.
“We experienced our exclusion and marginalisation through the Harbour Hopes process… We have deep concerns.”
Wilding responded: “We do want the existing community to be involved in shaping and getting the best out of development.”
Wilding, who arrived at City Hall in 2023 from the Planning Inspectorate, encouraged attendees at the meeting to respond to Bristol’s Local Plan by the deadline of January 26.
Earlier plans that have now been scrapped included a four-lane road between the Nova Scotia and the Pump House – photo: Martin Booth
A company that will develop a master plan for the Western Harbour is currently in the process of being chosen.
This “will help us and give us a huge step forward in progressing the much-needed work for this area” according to Price.
The master plan team is likely to be appointed in February and start work in March, with that work then taking a year.
Price added: “I’ve worked on regeneration projects that have been complex but I don’t think any of them have been this complex.
“There are lots of issues to consider and it is such a unique site and such a unique area, so we are really keen and passionate to make sure that we get the very best master plan from a really fantastic team working with us, working with the city and with the community.”
Western Harbour encompasses areas of Hotwells, Spike Island and Bedminster – image: Bristol City Council
Main photo: Martin Booth
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