Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone

Valentines Bridge, Temple Quay, within the enterprise zone

Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone is an enterprise zone in Bristol, England, focused on creative, high-tech and low-carbon industries. Covering an area of 70 hectares (170 acres), it is based around Bristol Temple Meads railway station, which is being redeveloped by Network Rail. It also contains the area around the existing Temple Quay development, and the Silverthorne Lane and Avon Riverside areas. It includes the site of the planned Bristol Arena.[1]

The creation of the zone was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the Budget of March 2011,[2] and it was launched in 2012.[1] The zone offers streamlined planning controls and reduced business rates. Rates generated by the zone are channelled to five other areas in the region,[3] designated Enterprise Areas. These are Avonmouth (focusing on manufacturing and distribution), Bath (media and publishing), Emersons Green including Bristol and Bath Science Park, Filton (high-tech) and Weston-super-Mare (business services). Development of the enterprise zone is coordinated by West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, Bristol City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Network Rail.[1]

Network Rail is redeveloping the station,[1] in conjunction with its electrification of the Great Western line which will cut the journey time from Temple Meads to London Paddington station to 80 minutes.[2] Station Approach Road will be turned into a public square and the station's main entrance moved to the north side of the station.[4] In January 2015, the council announced changes to the layout of the roads around the station, with the removal of Temple Circus roundabout and provision of better routes for pedestrians and cyclists.[5]

Across Station Approach from the station,[2] the Temple Gate redevelopment by TCN UK is a creative and digital campus for small and medium-sized enterprises. Redeveloped buildings include Bristol and Exeter House and Temple Studios. The latter opened in 2013.[1]

Engine Shed's lounge area

Engine Shed is a new use for the Old Station, Brunel's original building, in partnership with the University of Bristol.[1] Opened in 2013,[2] it hosts business incubators for startups.[6] An Engine Shed 2 is planned.[1]

The zone's biggest development site, sometimes known as 'Arena Island', is south of the station and across the River Avon.[7] Formerly occupied by the Bristol Bath Road depot, the site was acquired by the Homes and Communities Agency.[8] In February 2014 Bristol Council agreed the financing of the arena, which including funding provided by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership totals £91 million.[9] The winner of the competition to design the arena, the architectural firm Populous, was announced in March 2015.[10] In the same month, the HCA gave the arena site to Bristol City Council.[11]

In 2013 the HCA agreed to fund an £11 million road bridge over the river, to link Cattle Market Road to the site of the planned arena.[7] Construction of the 63-metre (207 ft) bridge took place from March to September 2015. It has lanes for cars, bicycles and pedestrians.[12]

The Avon Riverside area extends along the A4 Bath Road, and Bristol's so-called 'media mile', as far as the site of Paintworks, an existing mixed-use development by Verve.[13] Phase III of Paintworks will be the development of a 'creative skills hub' for digital and media businesses, in partnership with Creative Skillset.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "An enterprising idea with a radically new approach". Bristol Post. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bristol enterprise zone looks to keep up the momentum". Bristol Post. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Land near Temple Meads named as Bristol enterprise zone". BBC News Online. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bristol Temple Meads station to get £100m investment". BBC News Online. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bristol's Temple Gate layout change planned in £21m revamp". BBC News Online. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Why tech industries are thriving in the south-west of England". The Guardian. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone bridge plan wins £11m". BBC News Online. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Temple Meads diesel depot to be used by creative groups". BBC News Online. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Bristol City Council agrees to help fund £91m Arena". BBC News Online. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Winning design chosen for Bristol's £90 million arena". Bristol Post. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Council handed land for Bristol Arena by the government". BBC News Online. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Bristol Arena Island bridge finished". BBC News Online. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Bristol's booming tech sector is leading the way – now commercial property market needs to catch up". Bristol Post. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 51°26′46″N 2°34′41″W / 51.446°N 2.578°W / 51.446; -2.578

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