Plans for two new office blocks and a ‘landscaped urban park’ next to one of Bristol’s busiest city centre roads have been unveiled. The project, set to be developed on the currently vacant site on Temple Way, next to the Gardiner Haskins warehouse, would create ‘best-in-class’ office space according to developers.
The site was levelled in the late 2010s – then known as Glassfields – and will be named The Distillery. It’s owners, Royal London Asset Management Property (RLAMP), said the plan will “complete the revitalisation” of the area.
The location is on the east side of Temple Way, between Broad Plain and Avon Street, neighbouring the Leonardo Hotel, which opened in 2021. RLAMP intends to consult with local residents in Bristol before submitting a full planning application and has launched a website for people to learn more.
One of the proposed office blocks will be 14 storeys high, and the other will feature cafes or other retail spaces on the ground floor, as revealed in a request to the city council planners by RLAMP to determine if an Environmental Impact Assessment is required for the project.
David Morris, Senior Development Director at RLAMP, said: “Bristol needs new, sustainable best-in-class office space to meet the needs of modern business occupiers and the environment.
“The way we use office space has changed and the Bristol economy needs investment to support businesses, economic growth and the city’s social fabric.
“Royal London Asset Management Property is proposing to redevelop what is currently vacant land on Temple Way/Avon Street into two new, high-quality office buildings surrounded by a significant urban park to provide calm, pleasant new connections through the area for office workers and local residents.
“Our plans will make best use of an under-utilised urban area in the city centre while further establishing the Distillery as a vibrant business campus.”
He also highlighted the broader community benefits of the site, adding: “As well as our bricks and mortar investment, we are engaging with local communities and city-wide organisations to provide opportunities for local people to access skills, training and support.
“By working with local communities, we are also understanding what other uses would benefit the area and how new public space can be created and managed for the benefit of everyone.”