Regeneration plans in the heart of Bristol’s Old City

Developers behind regeneration plans for one of Bristol’s oldest streets say their proposals will bring a wealth of opportunity to the city.

A new four-star hotel, flats, serviced apartments, shops and eateries form part of the vision for a collection of buildings encompassing Broad Street and stretching almost along the line of the city’s medieval wall.

Artisan Real Estate Investors and Bristol-based architects Alec French are behind the plans to breath fresh life into the heart of the Old City, which is known for its quirky medieval streets and passageways.

Broad Street

They say that the development plans have been carefully considered to minimise disruption to the local community and risk to adjoining property.

The site is just a stone’s throw from Small Street, where developers made national headlines when they destroyed the historic interior of a building with the intention of turning it into students flats.

In this case, the people behind the project have been  keen to stress that all historic features will be preserved and landscaped as part of the plans and there will be a strong focus on environmental sustainability.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to redevelop such a historic area that is currently under-utilised,” said Clive Wilding, property director of Artisan.

“Bristol is a unique city with a fantastic story to tell and we look forward to bringing this site back to life.

“We’re keen to complement the city council’s aspirations for the Nelson Street Public Realm Strategy by improving accessibility and creating new employment, living and leisure opportunities to benefit the local community.”

The regeneration site includes a mix of listed buildings and more modern structures, including Natwest Court and the Everards Printing Works building with its unique Art Nouveau façade, which is set to become the grand entrance of a new hotel.

The new 250-room hotel will also host meeting and conference facilities, and there will be plans for a five-storey residential block of one-bed and studio flats, as well as a separate three-storey block of serviced apartments and retail units.

Robin Gray from Alec French said: “Having designed Natwest Court when it was built in the 1970s, it is wonderful for Alec French Architects to be able to return to re-purpose the building.

“There are some breath-taking views and vantage points from the building and we will be incorporating these into the design to create exceptional guest accommodation and private residences, and plan to fully utilise the roof space in a way that is sensitive to the adjoining historical buildings.

A planning application for the project is yet to be submitted.

Artisan added that their team of consultants have been selected for their extensive knowledge of Bristol and the historic buildings within the site and will aim to operate within the local supply chain.

Read more: Saving Bristol’s heritage