Over half of respondents to the recent Bristol City Centre Transport Changes consultation have shared positive views on proposals to prepare for new homes in the area and the introduction of changes to bus routes and infrastructure and enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes.

The Bristol City Centre Transport Changes consultation ran from 12 August to 30 September 2024 so everyone could find out more about the proposals and give their views.

More than 2,000 people filled in the survey and 21 stakeholder groups submitted formal responses, giving their views on changes to the transport network across five areas, including:

• Broadmead area
• Bedminster Bridges
• Redcliffe Roundabout
• Temple Way
• Bond Street

The plans include pedestrianising The Horsefair and Penn Street in Broadmead in readiness for thousands more people calling it home, changing bus routes and infrastructure, and enhancing pedestrian and cycling routes.

These changes would promote walking, wheeling, and cycling, make bus journeys quicker and more reliable, and support the long-term goal to create a segregated rapid transit route from the southwest to the northeast of the city.

A report has now been published that details the responses received through this consultation. Analysis of the feedback found support for all five areas of the scheme, with each question getting an approval rating of between 50 and 63 per cent.

These proposals are a vital part of a wider vision to adapt to changing shopping and leisure habits and prepare for major housing developments in Broadmead, which is set out in the Bristol City Centre Development and Delivery Plan.
I am really pleased the plans have been welcomed and are generally supported. The feedback has been really useful and means we can refine our designs, so they work better for everyone. I am especially pleased that we’ve looked again at the location of disabled parking spaces and are planning ahead to make sure numbers are maintained throughout the construction phases.

We are committed to making sure that the city centre remains vibrant and welcoming for all, and I would like to thank everyone who got involved in the consultation and gave us their invaluable insights.

Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee

Of the main changes proposed:

• 59 per cent of people agreed with pedestrianising Horsefair and Penn Street.
• 60 per cent of people agreed with new walking and cycling routes over Bedminster Bridges.
• 56 per cent of people agreed with the changes to Redcliffe Roundabout.
• 66 per cent of people agreed with new crossings at Temple Way.
• 58 per cent of people agreed with new bus priority on Bond Street near Newfoundland Circus.

The report highlights that Disabled people were less likely to agree with the proposals. The council is working with WECIL – an organisation led by and for Disabled people that supports independent living – to further understand possible issues and solutions. 

The council is updating the designs based on the feedback, including improving access for all by adding more disabled parking spaces around Broadmead, adding more crossing points that are level with pavements, and differentiating between cycleways and pedestrian areas with different surfaces to make routes clearer and safer.

Along with many more improvements, the plans have been changed to reinstate the right turn at the Bay Horse out of Lower Maudlin Street for buses, in line with feedback from First Bus and North Somerset Council.

The council has split the five areas of Broadmead, Bedminster Bridges, Redcliffe Roundabout, Temple Way and Bond Street into separate projects, to bring forward the projects that have more advanced plans and start building them.  

There will be further informal engagement on some of the designs followed by statutory consultations, which is part of the traffic regulation orders process. These are needed to legally make the proposed changes to the highway.

The council will continue to engage with key stakeholders about plans for the Broadmead area, including WECIL and Design West, and continue conversations with the 515 businesses that will be impacted by the plans, and meet with local groups such as Bristol Walking Alliance.

The Bristol City Centre Transport Changes project is being funded by the UK government through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. This funding is to help tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the environment, as well as support the growth of the local economy by connecting people to education and jobs. It cannot be used for ongoing maintenance of local roads or on other council services, such as housing or waste collections.

Download the full report from the Bristol City Centre Transport Changes consultation site.

Original press release by Bristol City Council