‘We need homes in Bristol, but we need jobs too’

Barely a week goes by without Bristol topping a best city list – not just nationally, but increasingly now internationally.

As the accolades flow, many Bristolians feel rightly proud that our city is finally getting the recognition it deserves, but amongst this self-congratulatory fervour, there is a danger we could get complacent.

Firstly, let’s look at some of the positives. The harbourside is flourishing with hugely vibrant and successful new developments from Wapping Wharf on the south side, to the Harbour Inlet on the north side.

The next phase at Temple Quarter has been kick-started by the University of Bristol and the new mixed-use quarter at Finzels Reach is coming to fruition.

Gaol Ferry Steps at Wapping Wharf

At last, the remaining retail space at Broadmead, now 10 years in the shadow of Cabot Circus, will be given the revamp it requires to secure a strong and successful future following the ‘in principle’ approval of the plans by the council.

Much of the office space and other employment land in Bristol which was vacant and not fit for purpose – either being too expensive to refurbish or no longer in the right place as the city has evolved – has been converted.

This has created much-needed new homes to provide for our growing population, student accommodation to service our expanding universities and new hotels for our burgeoning tourism sector, bringing life and energy into our city centre.

Whilst this has helped drive the success of our city, there’s a real danger that the balance could tip too far. Over the last 10 years, the equivalent of 1.8m square feet of employment space has been lost to residential, student and hotel development and we’ve only created 2m square feet of new office space during that time.

Simon Peacock

The supply of office space is now at a record low and there is only one suite of 3,000 sq ft of grade A office space immediately available in central Bristol.

It’s not all about offices either. We need a range of employment space for different sectors.

Only recently, when tasked with finding a site for a new office and manufacturing facility for a local company employing 200 staff, which wanted to expand, we found there was only one site available in the right area that they could move to. A sobering thought.

Cities are constantly evolving. And as they do so, local authorities, with the help and guidance – we like to think – of property experts, must ensure there is the right distribution of purpose and activity across land.

Without proper planning, we’ll not be able to attract new companies into the area and could even lose existing employers.

There are plans to create office space inside the old generator building at Finzels Reach

As the population of our city region grows and the delivery of new homes is prioritised nationally and locally, we must make sure there’s also enough employment space to meet their needs too. Of course people need decent places to live, but they need somewhere to work too!

This land must be allocated where employers can get the right staff and be near effective communications networks. This requires local authorities to work together for the common good and plan ahead.

With the West of England Joint Spatial Plan at a key stage in its development, we have a major responsibility to get the balance right.

So, for instance, if the proposed new junction on the M4 gets approval, we must make sure any land earmarked for development nearby includes employment as well as residential uses.

Bristol should also consider extending its outer edge or working with other authorities to identify sustainable options for development possibly in the green belt, particularly where sites are of poor quality.

It is in all of our interests to ensure Bristol maintains enough employment space to meet the needs of a range of sectors to ensure that we do not stifle further growth of the city.

If we get it right, in 10 years’ time we could be celebrating another sackful of accolades to add to our trophy cabinet.

Simon Peacock is the lead director for JLL South West. The company is hosting its annual South West Property Market Review on Thursday, January 25 at We the Curious from 6pm. Email jllswevents@eu.jll.com  for a free ticket to the event.

Read more: Are manufacturing and logistics sectors being squeezed out of Bristol?