A blueprint for Bristol’s development over the next 40 years has been published by the city’s business leaders – with a key ambition of eradicating poverty and unemployment.
Improving public transport to generate economic growth also forms a major part of the plan, along with grandiose ideas such as raising the level of the river in the Avon Gorge and removing the 'spaghetti junction' of roads at the Cumberland Basin. Both projects would transform Bristol and create thousands of jobs.
The vision, spelt out in a hardback book High in Hope, is the culmination of a two-year project and is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe.
The Bristol 2050 project has brought together business leaders from across the region, led by Business West. Together they have looked past Bristol’s current overall prosperity and have discarded the traditional status quo and replaced it with bold thinking to growth at the absolute forefront of future policy thinking.
High in Hope has been written by Dr John Savage, who helped launch the business-led Bristol Initiative 20 years ago in the wake of riots across the UK, including St Pauls.
It also has contributions from influential town planner David Lock and Bristol-based academics, architects and business organisations.
Among its recommendations, High in Hope advises that up to 6,000 hectares of land may need to be developed by 2050 to deliver much needed jobs and houses. It also seeks to address the need to create an efficient and comprehensive public transport system.
Other specific ideas seen as critical to the future growth and prosperity of the region include the development of an Avon Barrage, extending High Speed Rail to Bristol and a greater ability to levy local taxes and use the funds.
Dr Savage said: “The Bristol region is already attractive to people and businesses but there is uncertainty about where it is going and why; there is no longer-term vision, no overall leadership, no sense of a shared direction.
“By ensuring that the business voice is heard and championing Bristol as the place to do business and to live, we believe that we can achieve a tangible and improving return on public investment, with a significant increase in the gross domestic product of the city-region.
“We must make a statement to both local and national government about the importance of the city region and the desire for change and strong leadership.”
Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, added: “The book is only the beginning; the primary reason for publishing the 2050 vision now is to start a debate, raise aspirations and illustrate the benefits of long term strategic thinking. We have involved the wider business community from the start of this project and for it to be a success there needs to be an ongoing debate and a continual flow of new ideas. To facilitate this we’ve set up project groups and are encouraging the wider business community to participate and take ideas forward.”
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