Bristol can take “bold and innovative steps” to meet its growth ambitions by allowing taller buildings and higher density developments, city mayor Marvin Rees has said.
The comments, which echo earlier statements he has made on the issue, came as the city council launched a consultation on new urban living proposals. 
Cabinet member for spatial planning and city design Cllr Nicola Beech pointed to recent mixed-use developments at Paintworks, pictured right, and Wapping Wharf, pictured below, as good examples of higher density schemes.
The Urban Living proposals are designed to support a significant increase in new and affordable homes in Bristol by encouraging the best use of land through more concentrated building and welcoming high quality taller buildings in the right places.
Communities in Bristol are invited to comment on the new planning guidance. The guidance has been prepared at the request of Mayor Rees, who in his inaugural State of the City address in 2016, said: “I want Bristol’s skyline to grow. Years of low-level buildings and a reluctance to build up in an already congested city….. is something I am keen to change.”
This week he added: “We have the opportunity to be much more ambitious in order to meet our growth requirements, while at the same time protecting the unique character of Bristol. This document is intended to encourage well-designed, connected and accessible neighbourhoods with a focus on regenerating brownfield land across the city.
“We need to take bold and innovative steps to make Bristol a joined-up city, linking up people with jobs and with each other.”
He said he was confident the positive guidance could help meet the competing demands which developments need to fulfil in a busy urban environment like Bristol and ensure it had the right balance alongside its historic environment.
“Most areas of Bristol do have the potential to accommodate more growth and regeneration, which would see an increase in housing densities,” he said.
“This is about creating good places to live for everyone and, importantly, establishing new neighbourhoods which everyone has a stake in, where no one gets left behind.”
The guidance also identifies a set of quality standards designed to deliver high-density quality homes and good places to live for all ages.
Cllr Nicola Beech added: “I’d encourage everyone in Bristol to take time to review what we are proposing and give us their feedback. The future development of our city is incredibly important if we want to continue to attract people and investment.
“Recent developments at Wapping Wharf and Paintworks are good examples of what we would like to see more of. There is already significant development interest in parts of the city centre’s eastern fringes including Temple Quarter, Bristol’s Shopping Quarter, Old Market and North Redcliffe, all of which are supported by established planning and design guidance, setting out a clear vision for these areas.
“We are keen to extend this interest eastwards, promoting renewal to some of Bristol’s poorest communities.”
To view the Urban Living Supplementary Planning Guidance Consultation, go to www.bristol.gov.uk/urbanliving. Alternatively, reference copies are available to view at libraries. Comments should be submitted by April 13.
The Bristol Local Plan Review consultation can also be viewed on the council’s website at www.bristol.gov.uk/localplanreview. Copies are also available at libraries and the deadline for comments is also April 13.
