Full steam ahead for Temple Quarter revamp after Government award of £95million

The Temple Quarter is set to become Bristol’s biggest ever regeneration project after Levelling Up Minister Neil O’Brien announced today (June 10) that it will receive the long-awaited £95 million in funding to kick-start the scheme.

Up to 10,000 homes and 22,000 jobs will be created through the 25-year project which will start with the remodelling of Temple Meads station and a new University of Bristol campus and a transport hub.

The second phase will see development on the old gas works site, Temple island and the wider St Phillip’s Marsh land.

The first phase will deliver 2,500 homes and 2,200 jobs by 2032.

The agreed funding comes just a few month after Mayor Marvin Rees predicted the money was coming following concerns the city was missing out on Levelling Up funding being provided by the Government.

Making the announcement today, Mr O’Brien said: “Building new homes in the places they are most needed and regenerating our towns and cities lies at the heart of the government’s levelling up mission.”

The first phase of the scheme will see the creation of three new or significantly improved station entrances planned to the north, south and east of Temple Meads station

The new eastern entrance will make it much easier to reach the station from surrounding neighbourhoods and will create a link to the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise campus.

Mike Gallop, Network Rail’s Western route and strategic operations director, said: “We welcome this funding announcement and look forward to continuing working with our partners to revitalise Bristol Temple Quarter, including transforming Bristol Temple Meads station into a world class transport hub.”

Peter Denton, chief executive of Homes England, said: “The multimillion-pound government funding will resolve much needed improvements to the infrastructure surrounding the station.”

The partnership between the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol City Council, Network Rail and Homes England has been praised by Mr Rees who said he was delighted to secure the funding.

He said: “Temple Quarter creates the opportunity to make our city more sustainable and better connected, while providing the affordable homes, accessible jobs and training that our citizens want and need as we tackle the climate and ecological challenges.

“The partnership has brought forward a realistic, integrated vision to create a thriving new area of the city that will be key to Bristol’s and the city region’s journey to becoming an inclusive and sustainable economy, boosting Bristol’s role as a major driver of the city region and Western Gateway economies.”

The West of England Metro Mayor, Dan Norris, said: “I’m thrilled that the Combined Authority, that I lead, has been awarded £95 million to invest in Temple Quarter, one of the most exciting regeneration projects in Europe.”