Bristol commercial property specialist Bruton Knowles has urged the Government to consider extending Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone into South Bristol.
Head of Agency Paul Williams said the thriving new creative hubs south of the river were ideally placed to benefit from Enterprise Zone status.
He said: “Details are yet to be announced on where the expanded zone will go. Realistically, the adjacent industrial pocket between the main railway line to the north and the River Avon to the south would make a logical extension zone, but we feel South Bristol’s bustling creative hubs should also be given serious consideration.
“With the Paintworks complex already included in the Zone we feel that pushing the boundary out into South Bristol could be just the boost this area needs in order to build on recent positive developments, such as the opening of Filwood Green Business Park, the South Bristol Link Road and the forthcoming MetroBus system.”
Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone has attracted more than 2000 new jobs as big name firms migrate to the popular business district.
Paul Williams said: “Temple Quarter was once something of a backwater but is now being seen as the ‘trendy’ place to be. This is exactly what has been happening in South Bristol as new creative and media companies have transformed the fortunes of what were semi derelict areas of the city. South Bristol has been the poor relation for too long.
“The ‘Golden Triangle’, bounded by the Temple Studios, The Paintworks and Bath Road Studios on one side, extending out to the Bottle Yard Film Studios in Whitchurch and encompassing the Filwood Green Business Park would certainly benefit from being included within an expanded Enterprise Zone.
“Once the new link road is built the The Filwood Green Business Park will be far better served. Business people and commuters will have a faster and more direct route to the other side of Bristol – without having to run the gauntlet of the city centre.”
Paul Williams said expanding the Enterprise Zone to encompass the new business hubs could play a key part in the resurgence of South Bristol as a commercial property location.
He said: “We have all welcomed the developments in and around the Temple Meads area which are transforming one of the main gateways into the city.
“Temple Meads has long been the Achilles heel of Bristol city centre and we are looking forward to seeing the station become the entrance point which our city deserves. We are now hoping to see to the additional benefits which Enterprise Zone status could bestow on South Bristol.
“Paintworks, Bath Road Studios and the Bottle Yard have extended Bristol’s reputation for entrepreneurial excellence across the Avon and back into districts which had fallen off the radar during the downturn.”
