News / knowle
Shopping centre redevelopment plans back on table after years of delay
A “declining” shopping centre in south Bristol could finally be getting a face lift after years of delay.
Plans for a £100m revamp of the Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle were first approved in 2019.
But the proposals, which would have seen part of the centre and its car park knocked down to make way for 420 new flats and commercial space, have not progressed since.
is needed now More than ever
Now a new vision is set to be unveiled for the facility, which developers also want to rename the “Redcatch Quarter”.
New plans for the redevelopment of Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle are set to be unveiled next week. Photo by Ellie Pipe
The Redcatch Development Partnership has been formed to take on the redevelopment of Broadwalk.
The partnership is comprised of the centre’s owners, Broadside Holdings, which is a joint venture between BBS, Melburg and Galliard Homes.
A spokesperson for the developers said: “The aim is to create a new destination for the local community which better connects to Redcatch Park, enhances the leisure, retail and entertainment offer, delivers high-quality public realm and much needed new homes for all.”
Gary Hopkins, a local councillor for Knowle, supports the regeneration of the shopping centre.
Gary Hopkins, one of the local councillors for Knowle, says the regeneration of Broadwalk is “essential”.
He told Bristol24/7: “There are major problems with the construction of part of the building and it needs a lot of money spent on it.
“We now have the opportunity to have a big investment and a revitalised centre, but we want to make certain it’s done right.
“The key thing is that we need to make certain that the shopping centre is protected and enhanced, though not in its present form.”
The centre, which went into administration in 2017, has seen several retailers leave in recent years, including Wilko and Shoe Zone.
It was sold to Melburg for around £9.5m in 2021, after administrators Moorfields achieved outline planning permission for the redevelopment of the site in 2019.
Plans to demolish part of the centre and its car park in 2019 sparked concerns about the loss of Snooker City. Photo by Charlie Watts
The Redcatch Development Partnership are working to submit a fresh outline planning application for the regeneration in the spring.
They say that unlike the 2019 application, the new one will concern the whole of the centre.
“This is now an opportunity to adopt a holistic approach to the entire site and transform the centre to meet the needs of the local community,” said the spokesperson for the developers.
Previously, it was only part of the premises that was going to be pulled down, which sparked concerns at the time about the potential loss of a snooker club.
The shopping centre, which was built in 1970s, currently accommodates 37 retail units and includes a bingo hall, library and gym. Photo by Charlie Watts
Hopkins, a member of the newly formed Knowle Community Party, added: “One of the things that we are concerned about as well is what happens during the redevelopment phase.
“[The previous plan] was very carefully phased so that the shopping centre and what it provided was maintained throughout the redevelopment.
“It’s going to be more difficult to achieve that with the whole centre being redeveloped, and we need to look at a lot of detail.”
The proposals for the revitalisation of Broadwalk Shopping Centre will be shown for the first time in an online consultation event on January 27 from 6-7.30pm. You can register for the event by visiting: www.redcatchquarter.com.
Main photo by Charlie Watts
Read more: Outrage at proposals to relocate decades-old library
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
