Plimsoll Bridge likely to remain in new Western Harbour plans

On a recent afternoon, the man responsible for the masterplanning of the area now known as the Western Harbour told a story of how as a student in Bristol he had “romanced” his now-wife at the former transport cafe wedged underneath one of the jumble of roads that make up the area around the Cumberland Basin.

Ahead of the public being asked (again) for their thoughts on the future of the area, Alex Lifschutz of Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the company that has been employed by Bristol City Council to develop the plans for the Western Harbour, gave some of his own views.

These include the retention of Plimsoll Bridge – which will probably be rebuilt due to its age and current condition – but the removal of some of the “detritus” of roads that surround it, freeing up space for housing.

Lifschutz said he wants to retain the green space in Ashton Meadows the other side of Ashton Avenue Bridge, with the three historic bonded warehouses likely to become flats.

“To us, it seems that the simple answer is to make the best use of what’s already here,” said Lifschutz, adding that he wants to “calm everything down”.

The Cumberland Basin has long been blighted by its complicated road system and it was the reconfiguration of these roads that blighted the first set of plans that were released for the area.

Former mayor Marvin Rees was adamant that Plimsoll Bridge must be removed and not replaced as part of the Western Harbour development, with all three plans presented to the public in 2019 featuring the demolition of the bridge, as well as the potential demolition of Riverside Garden Centre for a new road and the possibility of a new four-lane bridge that would take traffic between the Nova Scotia and the Pump House.

But those plans will now only exist in Bristol Archives – housed in the Create Centre within one of the bonded warehouses on both sides of the New Cut which could become new homes.

Andrew Brown, Tony Dyer and Alex Lifschutz at the Cumberland Basin, with Plimsoll Bridge behind them which is now likely to stay within the new Western Harbour plans – photo: Rob Browne

Joining Lifschutz on a walk around the area were council leader Tony Dyer, and Andrew Brown, chair of the economy & skills committee and the harbour committee.

Apart from stressing the need for hundreds of new homes, Dyer was keen to distance himself from what happened under the former mayoral administration regarding the Western Harbour.

“I’m not going to talk about previous efforts,” Dyer said. “We are in a new stage of doing this now. We are taking a new approach to the redevelopment of this area now.”

Brown was almost on message with this reset. “We are going to be launching the consultation,” he began before immediately correcting himself: “The latest consultation.”

That new ‘engagement process’ runs from Monday to November 15 when people will be asked for their views on initial ideas “that will inform where new homes, community spaces, businesses, walking and cycling routes, roads and green spaces could go within Western Harbour”.

Flood defences will form a key part of the Western Harbour – photo: Rob Browne

So nothing has been decided yet, with Lifschtz saying a number of buzzwords during the walk including “interconnected”, “integration” and “linear park” – the latter which could form part of new flood defences.

The challenge will be to protect Bristol from rising sea levels but to design defences “which are not dependent on people, power, mechanical systems or advance warning… but which instead are designed to contribute to nature and wellbeing as a linear park”.

Council leader Tony Dyer next to an exhibition which from Monday will be on show at three locations – photo: Rob Browne

Lifschtz, Dyer and Brown were keen to stress a number of “what ifs?”:

• What if Brunel Way remains where it is and the spaghetti of diversion roads are reduced to make room for other uses as well as new homes?
• What if the flood defences were an opportunity to create new public realm for the city that is inclusive and offers beautiful spaces for people to enjoy the views?
• What if we can make the site easier to access and get around without a car?
• What if we could create a landscape better connected to both the river and the harbour, taking advantage of the views, while also improving ecology?
• What if we could create a variety of new, high quality homes that are appropriate in density and scale for the context and do not dominate the listed warehouses?
• What if there were many different uses in the area alongside homes, such as creative workshops, workspace, leisure uses and a cultural hub?

From Monday, exhibitions presenting the current ideas for the Western Harbour will be on show at Museum Square, the Create Centre and Riverside Garden Centre, with several drop-in sessions taking place in these locations, Underfall Yard and Holy Trinity Church.

For more information, visit www.harbourhopes.co.uk

Main photo: Rob Browne

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