Landmark building plans revealed in ‘last piece of jigsaw’ for Wapping Wharf development

Plans for a new landmark building in Wapping Wharf have been revealed as developers look to create ‘the last piece of the jigsaw’ in their regeneration of the once-derelict Harbourside site.

The 12-storey building will serve as the ‘centrepiece’ of the trendy Bristol neighbourhood and feature new homes, a market and workspaces along with a roof-top restaurant next to the M Shed and its iconic shipping cranes.

The proposals, by developers and owners Umberslade, will also secure the future of the independent businesses housed in temporary converted shipping containers at CARGO, providing a permanent home where it is hoped the firms can flourish.

Over the last six months Umberslade and their design and planning team have engaged with retail tenants, council officers, a number of statutory consultees and other stakeholders and their feedback has helped to refine and improve the proposals. Now the local community and wider public are being asked to have their say.

Here’s a look at what’s included the plans.

Landmark building

The new landmark building by Museum Square will extend to twelve storeys and contain homes at upper levels, with restaurants ranged down one side with cascading green external terraces, including a viewing terrace.

A further four ‘wings’ of apartment buildings will rise up from the podium, ranging between ten and five storeys (in total), stepping down in height towards Wapping Road and preserving important views of St Mary Redcliffe and St Pauls Churches.

240 new homes

Around 240 new sustainable homes will be created of different sizes and tenures, including 20% affordable, for social rent or shared ownership and the remainder for open market sale.

ising above a two-storey podium, the apartments will be housed in five buildings which step down in height towards Wapping Road.

Hundreds of people have already made Wapping Wharf their home in apartment blocks such as the Anchorage and Hope Quay, and it is hoped that the new flats will be build on ‘the strong sense of community that already exists’ in the area.

Permanent home for CARGO

Existing CARGO independent businesses, which are currently housed in blue shopping containers, will be invited to set up shop in the new landmark building.

On the ground floor, small independent stalls will sell groceries and produce in a new double-height continental-style permanent covered market called CARGO Market Hall.

Surrounding this will be takeaway restaurants and casual dining businesses with outdoor seating.

The floors above will be home to dine-in restaurants, with cascading green outdoor terraces offering views across the harbour.

Topping the building on the 10^th floor will be a rooftop restaurant, the first on Bristol Harbourside, with panoramic views across the docks and city.

New workspaces

A range of workspaces will be created on the ground and first floors of the new buildings, which can be ‘adapted over time’ in line with the needs of the neighbourhood and market demand.

At the Wapping Road end of the development, the units will house a range of businesses to serve the growing community at Wapping Wharf, such as a yoga studio with outdoor space, an indoor/outdoor gym and a nursery.

CARGO and the businesses along Gaol Ferry Steps already employ around 450 people and CARGO Work, which is currently under construction, will create around 1900 sq m of new office space to cater for up to 230 people.

‘Playable’ landscapes and new pedestrian route

A significant portion of the site - over 30% - will be dedicated to ‘striking, landscaped public streets and spaces for everyone to enjoy’.

Accessible public spaces, including ‘playable’ landscapes for children, will provide a ‘welcoming place for people to relax and will also create wildlife habitats’.

Trees, seating areas and gardens will line Rope Walk, with the public areas between the new buildings featuring planter boxes and places for people to sit and relax.

A new pedestrian route - a continuation of Fry’s Walk - will link Rope Walk and Museum Street.

‘It’s been wonderful to see the way people have taken to Wapping Wharf’

Stuart Hatton, managing director of Umberslade, owners and developers of Wapping Wharf, said: “We want Wapping Wharf to build on the success of what we’ve created here but make it even better.

“We believe that our ambitious proposals will enable Wapping Wharf to evolve into an established fully-functioning district of the city, where people who live and work here can find what they need on their doorstep.

“There’s a very special character to Wapping Wharf which you won’t find anywhere else in Bristol and this is in large part down to the cluster of independent businesses that have helped create the strong sense of community here.

“It’s been wonderful to see the way people in Bristol have taken to Wapping Wharf and we hope they will support us on the next leg of our journey.

“Whilst the proposals we’re revealing today have evolved considerably following input from Bristol City Council, statutory consultees and stakeholders, we know there may be ideas out there which we need to take on board so are looking forward to the response from the local community and general public.”

Chance to have your say

A public consultation on the proposals will take place from June 21 - July 8.

Drop-in style consultation sessions will be held at CARGO Work (on the corner of Cumberland Road and Wapping Road) on Tuesday 21 June and Wednesday 22 June from 4-7pm and will provide an opportunity to view and discuss the latest plans.

After this, an exhibition of the proposals will also be on display on the Wapping Wharf site hoarding, at the Wapping Road end of Museum Street.

The consultation material will also be available to view at www.wappingwharfnorth.co.uk where there will be an opportunity to give feedback via an online survey.

All feedback will be reviewed by the design and development team to help shape the proposals before planning submission later in 2022.