Bristol in 50 years: George Ferguson

As part of a series of articles and opinion pieces looking at how Bristol is shaping up for the future, Bristol24/7 asked city mayor George Ferguson for his thoughts.  

We are going through a time of significant change for the city. When I came into office at the end of 2012, I was determined to deliver some of the key projects that had been aspirations for the city for many years. I am now confident after two and a half years in office that we are on course to see many of those realised over the next five years – if I stay at the tiller of course! 

As an architect, I have always felt deeply ashamed by the arrival into Bristol at Temple Meads, hardly a fitting experience when entering a great historic city. However, the development of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone is planned to transform this first impression.

On coming into office I threatened compulsory purchase of the hideous eyesore of the former sorting office, which we have at last acquired to turn into what will become an inspiring new place with a mix of uses. I promised a new Arena, a missing plank in our local economy and culture. It will be a great new landmark for the city and, of course, a great catalyst for the regeneration of Arena Island to which the access bridge is currently being built.

I devised the Brunel Mile running from Temple Meads, through Queen Square to the SS Great Britain in the late 90s, and am pleased now to be able to work with the Redcliffe community and developers to create a new mixed use development, stretching from Temple Quarter to Redcliffe Wharf to bring more family housing and a greatly improved setting for the station and church in an area that has been devastated by poor highway planning. I am also determined in my second term to restore the High Street that was devastated by the 1940’s blitz followed by 1950s planning.

However, regeneration is by no means limited to the city centre. The newly opened Filwood Green Business Park in South Bristol has triggered a development of 150 new homes and a new park delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency, and I look forward to the regeneration of Hengrove with an inspiring development of over 1,000 new energy efficient homes to be developed around a community park in the next five years. 

Our status as European Green Capital has given us a special responsibility to develop a cleaner, greener, more accessible city. Whether we’re opening up our streets to people, working with local firms to test new technology such as pedestrian and cyclist detection for bus drivers or encouraging community involvement, this is a city which is being innovative and doing new things to help people lead healthier and happier lives. 

Transport continues to be one of our biggest challenges and over the next few years there will be major improvements to our transport infrastructure – starting with MetroBus that will be completed in 2017, and MetroWest that is set to transform our suburban railway system. 20mph zones and resident parking schemes are beginning to make a real difference to our streets, encouraging more active travel, along with investment in new cycle and pedestrian routes, all designed to make a safer and more liveable, playable, city.

In 50 years I hope Bristol will still be pushing the boundaries, continuing to be a laboratory for change – at the forefront of new technology, testing new transport solutions and energy saving devices. Bristol has always been a great place to live but it still has so much potential. As an architect, I of course want to see more great architecture and for Bristol to be the most welcoming and fun city, leading the way as a sustainable hub. I’d love to see some of our brilliant high tech companies devise life changing inventions to improve how people experience and travel round the city, but most of all I’d like people to feel pride in living in the most child friendly city in the UK – our City!

Read Bristol24/7’s own predictions for Bristol in 50 years.