Plans for a £100m revamp of Bristol’s iconic train station could be a major turning point for the city, according to Philip Morton, Head of Agency and Development at CBRE Bristol.
Details of the radical scheme to reinvent Brunel’s Temple Meads station, which are part of a package of measures designed to breathe new life into a large swathe of the city, were unveiled earlier this month.
Philip believes that the ambitious scheme can be a economic major driver when it comes to helping the city and South West region emerge from recession. He said: “When Brunel designed Temple Meads station the aim was to drive commerce and trade into the city from London.
“The station was designed to be the final stop for merchants and traders looking to come to Bristol to do business and in many ways it set the template for similar stations not just in this country but across the world. What is being planned for the modern station is an echo of what was first envisaged by Brunel more than 150 years ago.”
Network Rail is planning to improve the Victorian station in time for the electrification of the main railway link between Bristol and the capital. The £5bn electrification scheme will reduce journey times and increase the number of trains travelling between London and the South West. If all goes to plan the new station, complete with a new public square, modern concourse and passenger transport hub, will be at the heart of a bustling new business district.
Philip Morton added: “The vision for the station and the surrounding area is incredibly exciting and very ambitious but most important of all there is a business case. The regeneration of the building could turn out to be a major catalyst. Businesses looking to relocate are often very aware of signs of economic and commercial activity and this is exactly the sort of message that we need to be sending out to the national and international business community.”
