Major plans unveiled for new hotels and flats in heart of Bristol’s business district

A major planning application has been put together for a key piece of land in the heart of Bristol’s business district.

The parcel of land in the Temple Quarter, which has been left empty for 30 years, will be home to flats, two hotels and shops if the scheme goes ahead.

IKB Developments, which is  based in Leamington Spa, is behind the scheme which will see three buildings constructed on the land.

The site, which is next to Temple Meads station, is one of the final pieces of the redevelopment of the Temple Quarter.

It was at the heart of the Bristol’s Enterprise Zone and has been used as a car park and a site for pop up bars and cafes. At one stage it played host to a circus tent which was used to stage public events.

Temple Quarter site

Homes England currently own the site and according to the planning application the organisation is strongly supportive of the proposals.

The development will include three new buildings which will overlook the Floating Harbour. The buildings will include a  234-room hotel, a 168-room extended stay aparthotel, and 108 build to rent apartments.

The plans also include the creation of a new of publicly accessible open space, together with extensive landscaping and the creation of an ecological zone.

The new buildings will sit alongside the new Harbour Walkway which is due to be completed later this year. Once constructed, the Harbour Walkway will provide a pedestrian and cycle connection between the site and the new Bristol University Enterprise Campus which is being built on the other side of Temple Meads.

According to the application Bristol City Council is also keen for the development to go ahead as once the redevelopment of Temple Meads station is completed the site will be a key gateway into the city.

The applicant has secured an offer of funding from clients of Abrdn, one of the UK’s largest institutional funds. As a result, delivery of the development should go ahead once the scheme has been given planning permission.

Plan of the site

Two operators have also signed up for a full-service hotel and a leading sustainable aparthotel brand.

The feedback from public consultation has been strongly supportive of the proposals, with 80 per cent of respondents supporting the proposed approach

The first of the buildings would be an eight story 234-bedroom hotel, with in-house restaurant, and flexible ground floor commercial floorspace.

The second building would be home to an extended stay eight storey aparthotel, with a total of 168 rooms.

The ground floor of the aparthotel would contain a lobby, several guest meeting rooms, a hotel restaurant, guest gym, toilets and a luggage store.

The final element would be an 11 storey residential building which would include a total of 108 built-to-rent apartments.

In line with planning policy requirements, 20 per cent of the proposed residential units would be affordable housing units.

There will also be a public square within the centre of the site which will include areas of seating and landscaping, together with play space and public art.