The site
Cabot Gate is the land either side of the entrance to our main car park, located between the two ‘blue drums’ and the main road into and out of Bristol, Newfoundland Way. Currently the site is occupied by surface car parking (west) and Enterprise vehicle hire (east) and is partly hidden behind tree canopies and poor quality bushes.
Unwelcoming for pedestrians and cyclists
The vehicle entrance to our car park separates the land into two parcels (east and west). That car park access road is currently five lanes wide. There is an island to help pedestrians cross, but the current layout prioritises drivers not pedestrians.
While pedestrians do walk through the Cabot Gate site and across the parking areas, the route is not pedestrian or cyclist-friendly. The actual pavement sits alongside the southbound carriage of Newfoundland Way.
The site currently has very little overlooking or activity to make it feel safe and welcoming to pedestrians.
A key connecting route between St Jude’s and the city centre
The site does, however, sit at a really key intersection linking St Jude’s to the city centre. As the Frome Gateway regeneration in St Jude’s progresses, this route will become increasingly important and heavily used by pedestrians and cyclists.
Prominent location at city gateway
As well as for those walking or cycling into the city centre from St Jude’s and further afield, this is the last point before entering the centre for anyone entering Bristol down Newfoundland Way by bus, car or any other vehicle. At the moment, though, there is little to properly mark that entry point.
Previous planning permission
We secured planning permission for Cabot Circus redevelopment in 2006, almost 20 years ago. This included the Cabot Gate site, which proposed two office buildings covering most of the site. Despite a further office consent in 2012, the market for offices in this location was insufficient, and that development was never built. The land has, though, remained earmarked for development, which is acknowledged in Bristol City Council’s City Centre Framework.
Adjacent to the Portland and Brunswick Square Conservation Area
The site does not sit in a Conservation Area. However, it does sit close to the Portland and Brunswick Square Conservation Area which starts on the other side of Newfoundland Way. There are some important historic buildings in the vicinity. So any development needs to be sensitive to the wider heritage environment.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, you can: