News / KNowle West
‘Neglected’ high street to undergo major redesign
A “neglected” high street in south Bristol is set to undergo a major redesign after council chiefs approved funding for the project.
Bristol City Council’s cabinet on Tuesday approved the use of £1.7m to go towards transforming the public realm of Filwood Broadway in Knowle West.
In a cabinet report, the street is described as “unattractive, in disrepair and greatly underutilised” but it is hoped that the changes will make it a “welcoming place to visit, shop and spend time”.
is needed now More than ever
A conceptual design shows how the street could look, with the final scheme to be decided following a community workshop and consultation process.
The redesigned street will include “flexible community and events space, enhanced children’s play space, new street furniture, accessibility improvements, new signage, public art, greening and interventions to reduce the dominance of vehicles within the Broadway” – photo: Bristol City Council
The concept shows a new road layout for the Broadway, a new space for the Filwood Community Market and the pedestrianisation of the stretch of road outside Filwood Community Centre.
There are also plans to replace a play park on the street, and for a new multi-use games area (MUGA) in the Filwood area.
The existing MUGA in Filwood Broadway, on the site of the former swimming baths, is set to be removed to make way for 29 new homes.
Despite protest, the former Broadway Cinema is also now being demolished after plans to replace it with 30 new homes with some commercial and community space – including a potential new supermarket – were approved.
New apartment blocks with ground floor commercial and community use will be built in place of the former cinema – photo: Charlie Watts
The redesign of the Broadway is focused on the northern end of the street, with the council yet to secure funding for the southern part of it.
But the council has secured an additional £15m for the Broadway via the government’s Levelling Up Fund, enabling it to finally deliver regeneration plans for the area approved in 2012.
In the long-term, the council hopes to redevelop the parade of shops and flats at 4 to 16 Filwood Broadway, accommodating new homes and commercial space.
It also hopes to relocate the existing Filwood Library further along the Broadway, building new homes in its place.
Reconstruction of the public realm is set to start in May/June 2024 and last 12 to 14 months, finishing in the summer of 2025.
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Charlie Watts
Read more:
- Disability charity ‘left stranded’ by coach company
- Demolition of former community centre begins ahead of site redevelopment
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