The regeneration of the huge area around Temple Meads station in Bristol took another step forward this week as the company set up by three publicly-owned organisations began its search for a private sector partner to do the redevelopment.
The Bristol Temple Quarter company said it is ‘seeking a private sector partner that shares its vision’ for the transformation of the area of St Philips Marsh, which could see at least 10,000 new homes built.
The Temple Quarter company is an LLP, a limited liability partnership, made up of three public bodies – Bristol City Council, Homes England and Network Rail – and all three have agreed to hand over the land they own there to the LLP.
The LLP said the regeneration of the area between Temple Meads and St Philips Causeway will create more than 22,000 jobs and provide a £1.6 billion boost to the regional economy. Much of the regeneration has already started, with the building of the University of Bristol’s new campus on the old Royal Mail sorting office site, and a flurry of student accommodation blocks around Temple Quay and the Avon Street area.
Now, the LLP has formally published a contract notice, which invites private companies to apply to be the official partner for the project. Initially, whoever is chosen will work with the Temple Quarter LLP to build new homes and commercial space, and enhance the public space around Bristol Temple Meads station, which will eventually see three new entrances to the station – one on the east for the new university campus, one to the south for a new vehicle entrance and car park and one to the north, which will become the public transport hub.
This week, the LLP will also reveal the person who is going to lead it through the first years of the regeneration project, with the appointment of an independent chair of the LLP Board. Karen Mercer, the chief executive of the Temple Quarter LLP, said they wanted to deliver ‘world-class placemaking’.
“We’re looking for a partner who shares our ambitions to deliver world-class placemaking at Bristol Temple Quarter,” she said.
“Working together, we want to bring socially inclusive and sustainable growth to local people and those living and working across the region. By bringing together the public sector with the knowledge and expertise of the private sector, we can bring comprehensive regeneration to this part of our city,” she added.
It is expected to take all year to run the procurement process to appoint the private sector partner. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone was set up in 2012 by the Coalition Government and gives developers and public bodies greater powers to loosen planning policies to speed up development.
A spokesperson for Temple Quarter LLP said: “Our ambition is to create a series of thriving, well-connected, mixed-use neighbourhoods that help tackle the housing, climate and ecological emergencies, boost the economy, and make the city-region fit for the 21st century.
“Alongside delivering change to the area around Bristol Temple Meads station, BTQ LLP aims to work with its PSP to develop detailed proposals for new homes and jobs at St Philip’s Marsh, as well as find solutions for tackling challenges like flood risk and the current absence of public transport in the area,” he added.