The strategic infrastructure-led masterplan will set out a vision for the area up to 2050. It sets out the long-term ambitions for transport, nature, access to green space, land use and the economy over the next 30 years.
Through investment we can help close the inequality gap, enable sustainable economic growth and respond to the climate and ecological emergency.
Our approach has people at the heart of it. This vision will set out how we can reshape and strengthen communities across the area through creating stronger centres with safer facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelers; increasing local employment and enhancing the character and identity of existing neighbourhoods.
Also at the heart of the masterplan is ensuring that new development serves to benefit both new and existing communities by following sustainable design principles and providing new amenities that can be easily accessed by both new and existing residents.
This will be achieved introducing greater mix of uses into our local centres, improve access to nature and green space for all and through improving access to education and opportunities across the north fringe. We want to ensure the area is not just a great place to live, work or visit but also to stay and explore.
Our priorities are delivering sustainable, inclusive communities, infrastructure, and growth whilst addressing the climate emergency and widening opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors by sharing prosperity, and raising the quality of life.
The north fringe of Bristol is a major economic driver in the Southwest including commercial and retail activities, a major cluster of Aerospace and Engineering businesses, the University of the West of England and South Gloucestershire and Stroud College. Rapid growth over recent years has created challenges for transport, the environment, and the sense of community in the north fringe.
There is a need to develop a coherent vision for the region that will shape future development and infrastructure to strengthen community identity, respond to the climate and ecological emergency and support the continued growth of the economy and future need for more homes, particularly affordable homes across the area.
The masterplan sets out a vision and recommendations for projects across transport, nature, access to green space, community facilities, education, economy and community identity.
Some changes can be expected in the short term but many of the concepts presented in the masterplan are part of a medium to long-term vision to be delivered over the next 30 years.
The vision is expressed through a combination of illustrations demonstrating how the long-term vision might work in key locations across the area, as well as through the identification of some short-term projects that can be started soon to begin to realise the vision.
A list of the short-term recommendations included in the masterplan can be found on the engagement webpage.
The masterplan itself does not guarantee that funding will be provided or that the measures contained within it will be taken forward. It will inform the evidence base and process for local economic, planning and transport policy development, along with the development of infrastructure programmes.
This type of area-wide master planning forms part of the wider evidence base for local economic, planning and transport policy development along with the development of infrastructure programmes by both the public and private sector. It provides a high-level view of the future, the level of stakeholder support and the priorities for further studies, scheme and policy development to start to take forward the vision.
The masterplan will be a non-statutory document and will require further work before some of the opportunities identified can be translated into commitments in emerging economic, planning and transport policy development.
This area-wide master plan forms part of the wider evidence-base for local economic, planning and transport policy development along with the development of infrastructure programmes by both the public and private sector. It provides a high-level view of the future, stakeholder views and the priorities for further studies, scheme, and policy development to start to take forward the vision.
The proposals set out in the masterplan, in their current form, will require further study before proposals can be translated into commitments in the emerging local plan.
The final report will be published in Autumn 2022, once feedback received during this public engagement has been considered.
Through this project, existing policy and research has been reviewed to understand what the north fringe is now, what infrastructure schemes are already proposed for the area, and what the key challenges and opportunities are that will need to be addressed over the next 30 years.
Consideration has been given to the existing social, economic and environmental context as well the existing land use and infrastructure that support transport, utilities, community services, homes, and jobs across the north fringe.
Views have been sought from council officers, technical specialists, local elected members, businesses, education, and health providers to validate findings, understand local priorities and challenges and ensure that any recommendations are aligned with other plans being developed in the region.
The vision therefore builds on existing proposals to enhance the potential benefits to residents and visitors of the north fringe.
A high-level assessment of carbon emissions generated within the north fringe has been conducted as part of the baseline work for the north fringe masterplan. This identified a need for rapid action to reduce emissions to remain in line with local targets.
As such, the recommendations set out in the draft masterplan are aligned with key net zero carbon emissions design principles and priorities set out in our existing climate emergency action plans for the region. This includes recommendations for:
The masterplan has provided an opportunity for the local authorities and stakeholders to look at the area now and the opportunities for change over the next 30 years. The output will be a vision for the area supported by a high-level view on the infrastructure and wider policies that could realise the opportunities identified.
The area-wide masterplan will be part of the wider evidence base for local economic, planning and transport policy development along with the development of infrastructure programmes by both the public and private sector.
The principles for inclusive and sustainable and long term vision should inform the development of infrastructure programmes and economic, planning and transport policy to help realise place-based incremental change across the north fringe.
There will not be another opportunity to comment on the masterplan itself. However, specific proposals or policies that are developed following completion of this masterplan will be subject to further consultation and engagement as more detailed proposals are developed.
The masterplan includes long term ambitions and recommendations for the types of projects that could be started more quickly (in the next 1-5 years). These range from small scale interventions such as walking, cycling and wheeling infrastructure through to larger scale investments such as opportunities to tackle major severance points across the north fringe.
At this stage, specific details and cost estimates have not been prepared, however potential funding options that could be explored to progress the types of recommendations included in the masterplan have been identified and have also been summarised below.
Firstly, through the potential scale of development unlocked over the next 30 years there could be significant financial gain from future development that could complement public sector investment.
There are also several fundings routes that can be taken by the Combined Authority which may be relevant for some of the recommendations set out in the north fringe vision.
At the local level, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council control access to various internal funding programmes which can be used to fund economic infrastructure, town centre regeneration and affordable and specialist housing.
There could also be further central government funding streams, such as the Levelling up Fund, that could be applied for.
Take part in the survey and find out more by visiting the main webpage or joining us at one of our drop-in events:
A summary of the content covered in the draft masterplan can be accessed on our webpage, or you can request a copy of the full technical report by calling 07436 601889 or emailing consultation@westofengland-ca.gov.uk.
Find out more by visiting the main webpage or joining us at one of our drop-in events:
You will be able to provide feedback via our survey from 00:00 Friday 6 May to 11:59 Sunday 19 June 2022
Your responses to the survey will be retained for the duration of the project before being destroyed, following the submission of the final report. Responses to the survey will remain anonymous and be stored and handled in accordance with UK data protections legislation. This survey will not be shared with or passed on to any other third party outside of the project team.
The feedback survey also includes an equality and diversity monitoring sections. This section is really important. It is vital that we understand the experiences of a wide range of respondents in order to ensure that everyone is treated equally. By understanding more about what people from diverse backgrounds tell us, we can ensure we act appropriately to meet needs. All questions are optional and any responses to these questions will remain confidential. Individuals will not be identified, and personal details will not be published.
Once we have received your feedback on the draft masterplan, responses will be analysed and key findings from the public engagement will be considered to inform the final masterplan which will be published in summer 2022.
South Gloucestershire Council and Bristol City Council are consulting on proposals to improve walking and cycling routes in Filton and Brentry as well as proposals for relocating two existing bus stops on the A38 to improve traffic flows. The consultation will be running from 11 Apr 2022 at 17:00 and 18 May 2022 at 23:59.