Detailed proposals for the new ‘Southern Gateway’ at Bristol Temple Meads station have been submitted as a planning application to Bristol City Council, in a major milestone for the Bristol Temple Quarter project.
The new transport hub will see the creation of a standalone secure cycle building, new bus stops, new and improved walking and cycling routes, and a new multi-storey car park.
The development is part of the Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, thousands of new jobs, infrastructure, and new public spaces across 135 hectares of central Bristol.
The Southern Gateway will play a key role in enabling the delivery of new homes, commercial development, and public spaces. The land around Temple Meads station is currently dominated by car parking, creating a poor experience for people arriving in the city. Much of this parking is regulated for rail staff and passengers.
By relocating regulated parking into a single location at the Southern Gateway, the space to the north of station at the Friary, Station Approach, and in the Grade I listed Midland Shed can be transformed with new development, public spaces, and travel routes.
When complete, Southern Gateway will feature:
- a new 379 space car park for relocation of rail passenger and staff parking, with accessible spaces, electric vehicle charging, and short stay parking for drop off and pick up
- a separate high-quality cycle hub with secure access for over 530 bikes, including cargo bikes and accessible cycles
- new bus stops and futureproofed space for mass transit
- improvements to the Bath Road cycle path and walkway
In parallel to the delivery of the transport hub, Network Rail will deliver a new pedestrian access into Bristol Temple Meads station, transforming an existing railway track into a walkway over the River Avon, dramatically improving access to and from the station for residents in the south of the city. The walkway will link directly into the rest of the Southern Gateway site.
The planning application is the first to be submitted by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQ LLP). The BTQ LLP was created by Homes England, Bristol City Council and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to drive Temple Quarter forward, and the planning submission is a key step as the project moves from planning towards delivery.
Karen Mercer, CEO, BTQ LLP, said:
“This is a really exciting moment for Bristol Temple Quarter. Southern Gateway is the first piece in the jigsaw to unlock the new homes, jobs and public spaces that the city needs. The BTQ LLP was created to deliver on the long-term ambitions of the BTQ partners, and this planning submission is the first step towards the transformation of the area.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Getting our plans submitted for the Southern Gateway is another step towards transforming the entrances into Temple Meads into something the city and region can be really proud of. We want to make it easier for people to get around – however you’re travelling. The transformation of the station itself will complement our work to deliver new stations at North Filton, Portishead, and elsewhere, helping to bring new jobs and economic growth to the West.”
Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“It’s great to see the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership, which we set up with our partners to accelerate delivery at Temple Quarter, hit the ground running. The Southern Gateway is more than just a modern, high-quality transport hub, it is essential for the ongoing transformation of the long-neglected area around Bristol Temple Meads station. I’m thrilled to see our plans make it this far and I’m looking forward to seeing construction start.”
Marcus Jones, Western Route Director at Network Rail, said
“When Brunel opened Bristol Temple Meads 185 years ago it was truly world-class with many innovations that are now commonplace at stations everywhere. The station is now going through a transformation to make it an icon once again. We’re already delivering the new roof to vastly improve the environment in the station, have built a new Eastern entrance opening out onto University Square, and work has started on bringing the Passenger Shed back into use. With the plans for the new Southern Gateway there will be a dramatic improvement in the passenger experience, and it’s all part of our plan to give Bristol the station it deserves.”
Joe Wharton, Assistant Director – Regional, Homes England, said:
“The Southern Gateway is a further sign of the growing momentum behind the Temple Quarter project, which Homes England is pleased to be playing a central role in. This is the vital first move to begin delivering new homes and jobs at scale in the heart of Bristol.”
The Southern Gateway planning reference is 25/13135/F and the application can be found on the Planning Portal.
The works are funded as part of the £95m government grant awarded to Temple Quarter in 2022, with additional funding being sought from the West of England Combined Authority. The Southern Gateway will be the first new development delivered by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership.
Proposals for a new entrance and car park to the south of the station have been suggested for some time. In addition to public engagement in 2025, the Temple Quarter Development Framework, endorsed by the council’s cabinet in May 2023 following extensive public consultation, contained proposals for the new entrance. Over a third of respondents to the consultation said they would use the Southern Gateway entrance, with the highest number of these saying it would be because it was more convenient and closer to where they lived. The idea for a new transport hub near the station as part of Temple Quarter was also included in the 2016 Temple Quarter Spatial Framework.
A new Eastern Entrance, opening into the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, is set to open in Autumn 2026. In total, Bristol Temple Meads will benefit from four new or improved entrances as part of the Temple Quarter programme.
