Historic harbour development consultation begins

Mr Lifschutz says much of the infrastructure in the Western Harbour is "decaying"

The next phase in the redevelopment of a city's historic harbour has begun.

Bristol City Council is set to carry out a consultation on plans for Bristol's Western Harbour, before an overarching masterplan is published next year.

The project - which aims to also build hundreds of new homes - has proved controversial since it was first announced by the city's former mayor, Marvin Rees, in 2017.

Design team director Alex Lifschutz argued the "exciting" development would be good for the area where "much of the infrastructure is decaying".

Mr Dyer (pictured centre) said: "We do have a housing crisis and we need to provide homes"

As part of the consultation, Bristol City Council will be asking people a series of questions on ideas including road alignment, flood defences and improving connections.

Council leader Tony Dyer said the consultation was about "being more open" and "not being prescriptive".

"I don't think it's possible to come up with something that would 100% satisfy all of those elements," he said.

"We do have a housing crisis and we need to provide homes."

'A complex site'

Mr Lifschutz added that "much of the infrastructure in the Western Harbour is decaying".

Councillor Andrew Brown, chair of the Economy and Skills Committee and the Harbour Committee said the area, which includes the Cumberland Basin, Ashton Meadows, and part of Hotwells, was a "particularly complex" site.

"Through site research and technical surveys, we are developing our understanding of the traffic flows, flood management challenges, harbour operations, and heritage constraints as well as the condition of the roads and bridges."

The consultation will begin on Monday and run until 15 November.