Bristol City Council’s Cabinet has endorsed the Bristol Temple Quarter Development Framework.

The Framework sets out the overall vision for Temple Quarter, which will transform 130 hectares of land around Bristol Temple Meads railway station and St Philip’s Marsh. The project, a partnership between Bristol City Council, the West of England Combined Authority, Homes England, and Network Rail, aims to deliver 10,000 new homes and thousands of new jobs, alongside new public spaces, low-carbon infrastructure, and commercial uses in a series of mixed-use communities.

The Cabinet decision marks another major milestone for Temple Quarter in just the last 12 months, following the award of £95m from central government to kick start the project in June 2022.

Earlier this year, a consultation took place to gather public feedback on the draft Development Framework.

Public response to the vision in the Development Framework was overwhelmingly positive. Over 87% of respondents agreed with the five Guiding Principles for change at Temple Quarter. Across the range of consultation activities that took place, respondents also supported ambitions in the framework to deliver housing, jobs, improved accessibility, sustainable travel, community infrastructure, and public greenspaces at Temple Quarter.

To complement traditional consultation activities and to ensure that as many people as possible were able to take part in the conversation, three groups of local artists and creative engagement specialists were commissioned to undertake additional activities, focusing on engaging with a diverse range of groups. Commissions included a focus reaching communities in Barton Hill, which is adjacent to Temple Quarter and stands to benefit from new development nearby. Another focused on reaching young people, working with Screenology, a film school on Silverthorne Lane in St Philip’s Marsh, to work with film students to create films exploring the future of St Philip’s Marsh. Read more about the three creative commissions.

Now endorsed by Cabinet, the Development Framework has become a material planning consideration. This means planning applications that are submitted within the Temple Quarter regeneration area will be considered against the vision for the area as set out in the framework together with all other material planning considerations.

Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said:

“Temple Quarter is going to bring new homes, jobs, and opportunities to Bristol. This clear and ambitious vision for the area, which our consultation shows is well supported by Bristolians, gives us a long-term roadmap to delivering for our city. The approach we took for this consultation shows we’re serious about hearing from the communities and stakeholders who stand to benefit from the transformation of the area over the coming years. Now we have secured £95m from government after years of work, Temple Quarter now has real momentum to drive the city-region economy and support our ambitions to be inclusive, successful and carbon neutral.”

Dan Norris, Metro Mayor for the West of England, said:

“This is another important step on the way to the regeneration of Temple Quarter – a long-term project for the West of England – and I want to thank all residents who responded to this consultation for the enthusiasm they’ve demonstrated throughout. After so many years of talking about it, we’re beginning to get on with the job of turning the hopes and aspirations for the area into reality.

“Work has just begun on the new University of Bristol’s ‘Enterprise Campus’ – a place where the West’s brightest and best thinkers and companies can work together so our region continues standing as a leader in the white heat of technology and innovation. We are creating a fitting gateway to Bristol, and the West of England, which will strengthen this amazing city and region’s reputation as an economic powerhouse and bring much-needed new homes and jobs – unlocking the West of England’s even greater potential to be an even better place to live, work and thrive.”

Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:

“This is an important milestone in the story of a vibrant and successful new community being realised at Temple Quarter. The level of consultation and community engagement already undertaken by the Temple Quarter team confirms that we’re aligned in our mission to support the creation of places that people can be proud to call home.”

David Davidson, Interim Route Director for Network Rail, said:

“It’s great to see this important programme moving a further step forward. Alongside the Bristol Rail Regeneration programme which is both preserving and transforming Bristol Temple Meads for future generations, this regeneration of Temple Quarter will breathe new life into this part of the city, with a world-class railway station at its heart.”

Further progress on Temple Quarter in the last 12 months includes the signing of legal agreements between the partners; a Development Brief for the Mead Street area has been consulted on and endorsed; and the University of Bristol has begun work on the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

A number of other developments in the area either have started construction, gained planning permission or are being planned, including new homes and offices at Temple Island, new homes at Temple Gate and Temple Quay, and a new proposed stadium-led development on the site of the current Fruit Market.

2023 will be another landmark year for Temple Quarter. Anticipated progress will include more detailed design work for the new Northern Entrance and Southern Gateway, two key sites that will transform Bristol Temple Meads into a world-class gateway to Bristol. Construction work will begin on the new Eastern Entrance to the station in late summer, due to open alongside the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus in autumn 2026. Later this year, Legal & General also expect to publish more detail on plans for around 500 new homes, including affordable homes, new office space and a hotel and conference centre on Temple Island.

As the project progresses, the Temple Quarter partnership is committed to hearing from local people, businesses and stakeholders on plans for the future. Further engagement activities will take place. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Temple Quarter engagement page.

The Development Framework was prepared for the Temple Quarter Partnership by Mott MacDonald, a global multi-disciplinary consultancy with planning and placemaking expertise, in partnership with Weston Williamson & Partners. The work commenced in Autumn 2018, also supported by Deloitte and other firms including 3Adapt, Alan Baxter Associates, Avison Young, AWW, Turley and Pragma.