Application submitted for Bristol Temple Meads scheme

A major planning application was submitted at the end of July for the Southern Gateway at Bristol Temple Meads station, marking a significant step forward in the Bristol Temple Quarter regeneration programme.

The proposals, submitted to Bristol City Council by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQ LLP), outline plans for a new transport hub that includes a multi-storey car park, a secure cycle hub, improved pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and new bus facilities.

The Southern Gateway is part of a broader redevelopment plan that aims to transform 135 hectares of central Bristol, delivering 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs, and upgraded public spaces. The new transport facilities will be located on land currently dominated by car parking, which limits access and connectivity around the station.

Key components of the Southern Gateway include:

* A 379-space car park for rail passengers and staff, featuring accessible spaces, electric vehicle charging, and short-stay options.

* A dedicated cycle hub with secure parking for over 530 bikes, including cargo and accessible cycles.

* New and upgraded bus stops with space designed to accommodate future mass transit infrastructure.

* Enhancements to the Bath Road cycle path and pedestrian walkway.

In tandem with the Southern Gateway development, Network Rail will construct a new pedestrian access into the station. This will repurpose an existing railway track into a bridge over the River Avon, significantly improving station access for residents in southern Bristol.

BTQ LLP, formed by Homes England, Bristol City Council, and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, is responsible for delivering the Temple Quarter vision. The Southern Gateway marks the partnership’s first formal planning submission.

Karen Mercer, CEO of BTQ LLP, called the application “a really exciting moment” and said it represented the “first piece in the jigsaw” to unlock development in the area. Mayor of the West of England Helen Godwin said the plans would “transform the entrances into Temple Meads into something the city and region can be really proud of.”

Bristol City Council Leader Councillor Tony Dyer described the Southern Gateway as “essential for the ongoing transformation of the long-neglected area around Bristol Temple Meads station.”

The initiative is part-funded through a £95 million government grant awarded in 2022, with additional support anticipated from the West of England Combined Authority. This submission builds on public consultations conducted as part of the Temple Quarter Development Framework, endorsed in 2023, which showed strong community support for a new southern entrance.

The Southern Gateway will be one of four new or upgraded station entrances, complementing the new Eastern Entrance, which is scheduled to open in autumn 2026 and will link to the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus.

Network Rail’s Western Route Director Marcus Jones said the wider redevelopment would help return the station to its “world-class” origins, while Homes England’s Joe Wharton noted the growing momentum behind the Temple Quarter project.

The planning application, reference 25/13135/F, is now live on the Bristol City Council Planning Portal.