Residents who live in the north fringe of Bristol, which includes parts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, are invited to give their views on a plan to shape the future of the area.
The strategic masterplan for the north fringe of Bristol is being jointly developed by the West of England Combined Authority, South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol City Council.
The masterplan sets out a vision that aims to address inequalities, make sure growth is sustainable, and respond to the climate and ecological emergency, over the next 30 years.
Illustrative schemes in the draft plan include:
- Possible alternative land uses and improved connections at the Aztec West Business Park
- Improving access and public spaces around Bradley Stoke town centre
- Improving active travel connections between UWE / Abbey Wood and Stoke Gifford
- Transforming the A38 so that it no longer forms a major barrier between communities
Illustrations of strategic concepts for the above schemes are shown below.
To take part in the survey and find out more, visit westofengland-ca.gov.uk/north-fringe
Paper copies of the survey are available from all public libraries in the north fringe.
You can also request a paper copy or alternate format by calling 07436 601889 or emailing consultation@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
The survey on the vision for the north fringe of Bristol closes at midnight on Sunday 19th June 2022.
Drop-in events
During the engagement period, there will be the following drop-in events:
Thursday 19th May 2022, 2pm – 6pm
Patchway Community Centre, Rodway Road, Patchway BS34 5PF
Tuesday 24th May 2022, 6pm – 8.30pm
Little Stoke Community Café, Little Stoke Park, Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke BS34 6HR
These offer an opportunity to learn more about the plan, meet the project team and ask questions.
More information and related links:
- North Fringe of Bristol Masterplan (SGC)
- Strategic masterplan summary, May 2022 [PDF; 3.9MB on Dropbox] (Weca/Atkins)
- Strategic masterplan, full technical report, May 2022 [PDF; 12.2MB] (Weca/Atkins)
This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 22).
Illustrations of strategic concepts
Extracts from the strategic masterplan, full technical report, May 2022.
Aztec West Business Park
Aztec West, like many out-of-town business parks, was developed in the early 1980s and many of the older buildings may only have one refurbishment left in them before they become redundant.
As the demand for out-of-town office space changes, and the number of employees able to work from home increases, there may be opportunities to use the land differently. For example, introducing alternative uses, such as community facilities and retail, whilst increasing employment through the development of innovative and agile workspaces.
These changes could also help improve connections between Aztec West and the surrounding local communities.
Similar concepts could be considered for other business parks in the area, including the Almondsbury Business Park.
New bus, walking and cycling connections through Aztec West to Cribbs Causeway and the new urban centre proposed as part of the Filton Airfield site will generate more people and customers for wider retail and leisure opportunities as part of wider regeneration of Patchway.
Bradley Stoke town centre
This drawing demonstrates how there is potential around Bradley Stoke town centre to create a local high street by improving access and public spaces.
This may also open up opportunities in the longer-term for the centre to grow to offer more amenities and night-time economy activities, such as restaurants, to support the 15-minute neighbourhoods principle. This is the principle that residents have access to most, if not all, of their needs within a short walk or bike ride from their home.
Whilst Bradley Stoke is being used as an example here, other local centres could be transformed in a similar way through small interventions.
UWE / Abbey Wood to Stoke Gifford
In the area connecting the University of the West of England through to Stoke Gifford, changes could include improvements to pedestrian walkways, better access to bus services and Bristol Parkway station and encouraging development which offers more local amenities, such as shops and cafes, that overlook streets. This will enhance community identity and personal security by encouraging more pedestrian activity in the area.
Some of these concepts are already being explored in more detail as part of our separate Parkway masterplan project
A38 Gloucester Road
The strategic masterplan makes recommendations for how main transport corridors could be transformed by reconfiguring some of the large junctions and introducing a more pedestrian friendly environment along the length of the route.
In terms of the A38, it could transform the corridor so that it no longer forms a major barrier between communities, but instead becomes a street with people and the environment at the heart of the design, whilst still maintaining its function as a strategic transport corridor.
Opportunities may include:
- Removal of central reservations to be replaced with frequent pedestrian islands, interspersed with planters to enable people to cross the road freely along pedestrian desire lines
- Restrict highway traffic to single lane and reallocate remaining highway space to segregated foot/cycleways and bus priority where needed
- A reduced highway footprint could open-up further retail and commercial opportunities
- Conversion of the Highwood Road junction into a crossroad would release land equivalent close to the size of nine football pitches for development/regeneration and or public realm
- In the longer term, decommissioning the flyover
