Mayor George Ferguson has marked the start of work on a major redevelopment scheme in Bristol with a ground-breaking ceremony.
The final piece of the jigsaw to regenerate Bristol’s iconic Harbourside gets underway this week at Wapping Wharf, one of the most significant schemes the city has seen in recent years.
Developed by Umberslade in a joint venture with Muse Developments, this first phase of construction will feature 194 residential apartments, including 26 affordable homes, and 865 sq metres of retail and leisure space as well as a new pedestrian pathway linking south Bristol and the Harbourside.
George Ferguson, said: “Development at Wapping Wharf is another sure sign that confidence has returned to the Bristol property market, where there is now more activity than in any British city outside London.
“This is one of the most important Harbourside regeneration projects in recent years, including a pedestrian and cycle route linking south Bristol to the centre, creating better access and encouraging people to enjoy the new restaurants, cafes, M Shed and other attractions on offer.”
Stuart Hatton, director of Wapping Wharf (Umberslade) Ltd, said: “Wapping Wharf is the last key regeneration site on the Harbourside and the start of construction work is a move in the right direction for the Bristol economy.
“With other speculative projects such as 66 Queen Square, 2 Glass Wharf and the final phase of Crest Nicholson’s Harbourside development getting off the ground, it signals the resurgence of the Bristol property market and increasing levels of confidence in the industry.”
Preparatory work on Wapping Wharf started late last year, following a £12 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), through its Get Britain Building programme.
John Boutwood, HCA area manager, said: “Bristol Harbourside has been transformed by regeneration over recent years and Wapping Wharf will help to maintain that positive progress.
“It’s good to see that our investment has helped to unlock this important scheme which will bring vital benefits of new and affordable homes and new jobs to the city.”
The scheme will retain and restore several key listed buildings and the old jail gates to enhance the City Docks conservation area and create new public spaces and routes to the waterfront.
The new stepped and ramped pedestrian route called Gaol Ferry Steps will run from Gaol Ferry Bridge, the existing footbridge over the Cut, through the site to Museum Square, a new public landscaped square on the waterfront by M Shed.
When complete, Wapping Wharf will be transformed into a community of up to 625 homes, as well as local shops, cafes, restaurants, offices and a 150-bed boutique hotel.
Umberslade, the team behind Wapping Wharf, has recently formed a joint venture with Muse Developments, part of Morgan Sindall Group plc. The joint venture will progress the £42m first phase in Bristol’s Harbourside.
Guy Fowler, director major projects at John Sisk & Son Ltd, who have been appointed to carry out the construction work at Wapping Wharf, commented: “We are delighted to be delivering the first phase of this very exciting scheme which will kick-start the regeneration of an important area of Bristol.”
