Bristol BID launches Green & Blue Vision and calls for ideas to transform Harbourside
Bristol BID has unveiled a new vision for how greener streets, more biodiverse public spaces and better use of the city’s waterways could help create a healthier, more climate-resilient Bristol city centre.
The new Green & Blue Vision, developed with placemaking and landscape specialists MOOWD, sets out ten example ideas showing how targeted interventions could transform public spaces across the city centre, from Queen Square and Millennium Square to Temple Quay and the Harbourside.
Shaped through extensive consultation with businesses, partners and stakeholders across Bristol, the Vision is intended to spark discussion, attract investment and provide a platform for Bristol BID and its partners to turn ideas into action.
The ten ideas range from introducing nature-based play and new habitats in Queen Square, to a floating ecosystem at Temple Quay, more planting and places to rest at Narrow Quay, and transforming University Road into a greener boulevard. Together, they explore how relatively modest interventions could benefit people, nature and the local economy while acting as catalysts for wider investment.
The Vision also makes the case for a more ambitious approach to de-paving across Bristol city centre, identifying opportunities to replace or adapt areas of unnecessary hard surfacing with planting, permeable surfaces, rain gardens and other green infrastructure. The proposal responds to feedback gathered during the consultation process, where hard surfacing repeatedly emerged as both a barrier to greening and one of the city centre’s biggest untapped opportunities.
Bristol BID has committed £500,000 over five years to green and blue infrastructure, supporting projects ranging from direct delivery and match funding to surveys and design work that could help larger schemes attract future investment. The BID has already delivered and supported greening projects across the city, including Portwall Gardens, planters throughout the Old City, St Mary Redcliffe Church Wildflower Meadow, green walls and the appointment of an Urban Gardener.
Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol BID, said: “We need to raise our ambition for green and blue infrastructure in Bristol, increasing the pace, scale and impact of delivery, and work together to turn a vision into action.
“We want to see more spaces in central Bristol that bring nature into the heart of the city while giving people more reasons to spend time there. There’s a real opportunity for Bristol to set the standard for high-quality public realm, and this Vision is about starting that conversation, bringing people together and building the case for the investment needed to make it happen.”
“Through our work we know there is an incredible appetite for climate and nature action locally. This vision represents a new step forward for Bristol – one filled with hope and ambition for a city centre that is full of life, nature and high quality green space that benefits both people and wildlife”
Lizzi Testani, CEO, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership
Alongside the vision, Bristol BID and Design West, the South West’s design and placemaking charity, are calling on Bristol’s designers, students and emerging talent to put forward their own ‘Big Green Ideas for Bristol Harbour’, with four weeks remaining to enter a city-wide design competition.
Entrants are being challenged to reimagine one of three Harbourside locations – Bathurst Basin, Hanover Place and The Grove – exploring how planting, water, biodiversity, seating, play, art and other public realm interventions could make them greener, more climate-resilient and more enjoyable places to spend time.
The competition is deliberately focused on ideas rather than construction-ready designs, with entrants encouraged to think creatively about what could be possible. The three sites were identified through Bristol BID’s engagement with the public and city centre businesses as places with significant potential for future improvement and greening. Entrants can apply individually or as a team.
Three winners, one for each location, will each receive a £500 Love Bristol Gift Card, with the winning designs included in the published Green & Blue Vision. Entries will be judged on their response to place, impact on biodiversity and climate resilience, clarity of the proposal and innovation.
The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 1 November, with the winners announced as Bristol BID officially launches its Green & Blue Vision. The launch will take place at Creative Youth Network on Wednesday 11 November as part of Brazen Festival’s ‘Clean Day.’ From clean energy and climate tech to advanced manufacturing, the circular economy and green innovation, the day is focused on the ideas, businesses and breakthroughs shaping a more resilient world.
The winning and shortlisted concepts will be showcased as part of the launch, bringing together the ideas generated through the competition with Bristol BID’s wider ambitions for greener, healthier and more resilient public spaces across the city centre. The winning ideas will also form part of future discussions with Bristol City Council and other stakeholders about opportunities to improve the three locations. Get your ticket.
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