News / Castle Park
Plans to expand and enhance Castle Park
Bristol City Council has outlined plans to support the revitalisation of Broadmead and make Castle Park a “safer, more accessible, inclusive” space for all.
The proposals are part of the council’s City Centre Development and Delivery Plan, which sets out a vision and strategies for the regeneration of Bristol city centre.
The council plans to create “a new heart” to Castle Park, to make it better connected to the city centre and a focal point for events.
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One way it proposes to do so is by removing through traffic from Newgate – the road which runs between the park and the Galleries, which is due to be redeveloped.
It hopes this will transform the road into a park edge boulevard with improved and extended public space.
The council has proposed a raft of changes to Castle Park, including the pedestrianisation of Newgate – photo: Bristol City Council
The council is also proposing a new floating pontoon to enhance the park’s relationship with the harbour – photo: Bristol City Council
The council also wants to explore opportunities to re-use St Peter’s Church and create a new public space in front of the church tower.
It is also proposing opening up the park’s Penn Street, Castle Street and Merchant Street gateways, which would require the removal of 1970s walls.
And it wants to extend the influence of the park towards the floating harbour, by creating new viewing platforms and a floating pontoon or similar.
Alongside its plans for Castle Park, the council is also proposing changes to Broadmead, such as closing Union Street to general traffic, and removing traffic and buses from the Horsefair and Penn Street.
Other streets around Broadmead will also be transformed by having more trees, improved public spaces and new crossings.
The council wants to close Newgate to through traffic, turning it into an extension of Castle Park’s public space – photo: Martin Booth
Speaking about the proposals, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “The City Centre Development and Delivery Plan sets out an ambitious vision to guide the future of our city centre.
“As with all city centres in the post-pandemic landscape, the area faces multiple challenges, but our hope is that the principles set out in this plan will help future regeneration to ensure we can create a liveable, vibrant, safe and inclusive city centre that people of all ages will want to live and work in.
“As part of this consultation, we want to hear from residents, businesses, landowners and communities on what you think of the vision for the city centre.
“We want future redevelopment of our city to provide decent jobs, varied retail and to tackle the challenge of Bristol’s housing crisis, all whilst we face a climate and ecological emergency.
“Our vision for the future of Bristol city centre is one that offers diverse retail, vibrant culture facilities and a thriving evening economy, all while being somewhere that people can call home.”
The council is currently consulting on its proposed changes to Broadmead and Castle Park, which runs until October: www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/hub-page/city-centre-ddp
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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