News / redcliffe
Stitching back together a divided neighbourhood
An ambitious vision to transform one of Bristol’s busiest roads has been put forward by residents working together with design consultants.
The residents are calling for “a bold reclaiming” of Redcliffe Way that currently slices the Redcliffe neighbourhood and the city centre in half.
Tarmac and traffic are switched for affordable homes with rooftop gardens, local shops and services, and green public space in the plans put together by the Redcliffe Residents Action Group & Neighbourhood Forum and LDA Design.
is needed now More than ever
The community’s vision hopes to create a pedestrian and cycle gateway to the city centre and a healthy neighbourhood.
It proposes ‘the Redcliffe Block’, no higher than six storeys, with shops and services at ground level, space for offices on the middle floors, and spacious flats as an alternative to tall towers.
Redcliffe Way could be transformed under the proposed plans – image: LDA Designs
“We’ve been long campaigning to try and reclaim Redcliffe Way and stitch back together our divided neighbourhood, which is split in half by the road,” said Melissa Mean of the Redcliffe Residents Action Group & Neighbourhood Forum.
“Covid-19 has demanded that we look at our city and how we want to live with fresh eyes. Some of the traffic changes ushered in to support more walking and cycling were unthinkable even a couple of months ago.
We think and hope that some space is beginning to open up to think about further changes and raise expectations about what kind of development we want in our city.
“Ideas that were dismissed as ‘left-field’ and ‘radical’ now look like basic human rights – like access to outdoor space, and the right to clean air.
“So, we have worked with LDA Design to create a visual guide for how we think a reclaimed Redcliffe Way could work.”
Redcliffe Way has already seen changes to its road layout since this photo was taken in January 2017 – photo: Martin Booth
Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe Church, Dan Tyndall, said: “Redcliffe is currently sliced in half by an over-sized and outdated highway.
“Redcliffe Way splits the neighbourhood in half and marks the beginning of the sharp divide of inequality between north and south Bristol.
“We want to stitch north and south Redcliffe back together, create a fitting setting for St Mary Redcliffe, and a welcoming breathing space that the whole of Bristol can enjoy and be proud of.”
Clare Wilks, head of LDA Design’s Bristol office on King Street, added: “Our vision for Redcliffe Way is to shift the focus away from motor vehicles and create a place people love to spend time in and one that wows people arriving in Bristol from Temple Meads.
“It is a great opportunity to re-organise this incredibly wide street to provide more homes and offices, design delightful new spaces and develop hubs of activity along the route.
“As someone who has worked in the area for the past eight years, I believe Redcliffe Way could offer so much more for city life in Bristol.”
Main image: LDA Design
Read more: Scaled-down plans to build 32 new homes on derelict Redcliffe site
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