A team of architects and urban designers who have worked on high-profile urban schemes across the world are to create a six-month programme of community engagement on Bristol’s Western Harbour redevelopment.
Turner Works, Place Bureau and Burgess and Beech were chosen by Bristol City Council to lead a city-wide conversation on the future of ambitious scheme, pictured, which will transform the Cumberland Basin area into a new sustainable gateway to the city.
The multi-disciplinary team, which includes urban designers, architects, graphic designers and communications specialists, will work with the council and local organisations to develop a programme of activities and events over the coming weeks.
Details on how the public can get involved will be shared later in the summer.
The feedback from the engagement will then be used to create a ‘place-shaping vision’ for the future of the Western Harbour area.
A place-shaping vision is a document that contains ideas and principles to guide change in an area, which aims to promote better urban design and re-imagined public spaces.
In a competitive application process, London-based Turner Works’ proposed approach to engagement stood out to the panel, which included a representative from the Western Harbour Advisory Group (WHAG).
The team has an international track record of delivering engagement programmes, as well as experience developing place-shaping visions that have gone on to inform more detailed masterplans.
Closer to Bristol, Turner Works were the creative team behind Super Weston, creating a strategy to show how Weston-super-Mare could become a thriving place to live, work and visit.
The council hopes that, by commissioning Turner Works to engage with Bristolians at an early stage of the project – before any detailed plans are made for the area – the views of residents, stakeholders and the wider city can help to inform the future of Western Harbour, an area with historic and cultural importance to the whole of Bristol.
Following the engagement period and development of the place-shaping vision, the next phase of the project will be to develop a masterplan that will set out the future of Western Harbour. This will be commissioned in 2022.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “The Western Harbour project is an exciting opportunity for Bristol, so we want to put Bristol’s citizens at the heart of a collaborative vision for its future. Turner Works will work with local creatives, city partners and communities across the city to draw together an ambitious vision for Western Harbour that reflects the aspirations voiced by local people.
“Bristol faces complex challenges: a housing crisis, post-Covid economic recovery, and the threats of the climate and ecological emergencies.
“By bringing together ideas on transport, flood resilience and housing, we can respond to these challenges and unlock the potential of Western Harbour to deliver new sustainable homes in an active travel location that will future-proof this historic part of the city for future generations to enjoy.”
Turner Works director Carl Turner said: “We are delighted to have been selected to work with the people of Bristol to help create a shared vision for the future of Western Harbour; one that meets the aspirations of those who live close by and those across the city.
“Our aim is to create the positive energy required to build consensus with an open engagement approach starting later in the summer and into autumn. We look forward to working alongside our local partners and involving people in fresh conversations to hear their thoughts and imaginative ideas about what the area can offer in the future.”
Western Harbour Advisory Group chair John Savage added: “Bristol’s citizens have a great opportunity to have their voices heard and shape the change that is coming to Western Harbour.
“We are pleased the council has taken this open approach to public engagement we are looking forward to working with Turner Works and their local partners on this exciting first step of the journey.”
