Two hotels, around 100 homes and shops, bars and restaurants are planned for a high-profile site next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station that has stood vacant for more than a decade.
The London-based developer behind the scheme, Marick Real Estate, said the scheme would also include new pedestrian access onto a walkway next to the Floating Harbour. 
The land, owned by Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, is the last large section of the Temple Quay office park to remain undeveloped.
Marick had discussions with Bristol City Council in 2017 to develop the site with a 1,000-capacity convention centre and hotel – but these were curtailed when the council decided to site a convention centre on Temple Island, the original site of Bristol’s arena.
At one time it was earmarked for Bristol’s first and only five-star hotel – but the scheme fell foul of the global crash of 2008.
It was later used for a series of temporary structures, including bars, cafes and, at one point, a large ‘big-top’ circus tent that was used as a music and events space.
More recently it has served as a storage site for materials used to re-roof Temple Meads station. 
Marick said the scheme, its first in Bristol, would include a 232-room four-star hotel and a 168-room aparthotel.
A spokesman for the firm said: “The proposal included 200 car parking spaces on a two-deck car park that sat underneath the convention centre.
“Whilst early-stage discussions were held with the council, the proposal was never submitted as a planning application.
“The need for the convention centre shifted, and the market for hotel management operators at the time also changed as Covid struck.
“So, Marick totally revisited the approach and feel its new proposal is much better aligned with the city’s needs and aspirations, not least having zero car parking, instead of 200 spaces, and adding approximately 100 sustainable homes, including 20% affordable, instead of none.
“Rather than one single building covering the whole site, the new scheme opens the site up with a green space now positioned between the three separate buildings.”
Marick’s recent projects range from hotels to offices and trade parks as well as refurbishments of listed buildings.
Its plans for the Temple Quay site include:
- A 232-room four-star hotel
- A 168-room aparthotel
- Approximately 100 homes to rent, including 20% affordable
- Shared social and workspaces, a gym and concierge for residents
- A large, green landscaped open space in the centre of the scheme for the community to use
- Places to eat, drink and shop, helping create ‘active frontages’
- Connections through and around the site, including a link to the harbour walkway
- Bike storage spaces, with zero car parking other than two ‘universal access’ bays suitable for disabled drivers.
