FAQs

Yes, some trees would be lost as part of the Broadmead area, Bond Street and Bedminster Bridges proposals. The proposals include planting more trees than will be lost, exceeding the Bristol Tree Replacement Standard.

Yes, where trees would be lost, we would exceed the Bristol Tree Replacement Standard. In the Broadmead area we would create a large amount of new public space that can be used for rain gardens, trees, seating and public art (about 10 tennis court worth of space). We would follow the design principles and greening and art strategy set out in the Bristol City Centre Development and Delivery Plan, when we design these elements.

Existing bus services will benefit from the new bus priority measures in all five areas. Services will be become more reliable by separating out buses from general traffic.  

We are always looking to enhance and increase the options available to people, creating new, fast routes that link up communities from across the city.

Some parking spaces would be lost as part of these proposals. There will not be a reduction in blue badge or residential parking. For more detail, please see the answers in the geographic areas that relate to parking spaces.

The funding for this project needs to be spent by spring 2027, so construction work could start soon. 

We want to deliver benefits as soon as possible. However, we are aware of the many and varied construction works planned in the city in the next few years. This includes expanding the Heat Network, many private developments, refurbishing the New Cut bridges and river wall structures, and transforming Bristol Temple Meads station. 

We do not want construction of all these projects near each other happening at similar times. To reduce the impact, we are working on a phasing plan to determine the order to deliver projects in and when. This may involve delivering some parts of schemes earlier than others, and it may require temporary changes to the way roads work so we can close roads for development works, especially around The Galleries in Broadmead.

• Taxis can use the new bus lanes on Bond Street, Newfoundland Way and Newfoundland Circus.  
• Taxis will not be able to use the new bus lanes on Union Street. This is like the current arrangement on Broad Quay. It ensures that the new road layout will be able to operate two-way for high frequency, high reliability, low noise and low pollution buses. We estimate that there will be a bus every five minutes in each direction. 
• We are still deciding whether taxis should use the bus only bridge and bus lanes which access Bedminster Bridge. We are doing traffic modelling to understand how many taxis would use this facility and the impact on bus journey times. We also want to hear your views through this consultation. Whether or not to allow taxis through the bus gates will be included in the Traffic Regulation Order consultation.

The layout does not provide an efficient route for all modes of transport. Changing it would allow us to significantly improve how buses, cycles and pedestrians travel through this area.  

All the proposed changes are integral as a whole to make the new junction work. We have carried out traffic modelling to ensure that traffic can still flow through the junction, and this has informed which turns are and are not permitted in the proposals. We want to hear your feedback on the turns which are and are not permitted as part of this consultation.

This means that there isn’t traffic turning out of Guinea Street crossing a bus lane and in front of a bus stop, which would be a safety hazard. It also allows Guinea Street to be narrower, which will make crossing this street easier for pedestrians and cyclists.

A small number of trees would need to be removed to make way for the new layout. We would plant even more trees to replace them, resulting in an increase in the total number of trees in the area.

The new rapid transit route would use the bus gates on Redcliffe Street.

General traffic would still be able to access and drive through the area, but the bus gate on Redcliffe Street would change the routes used. General traffic would be able to enter and exit the area via St Thomas Street and Phippen Street. The junction between Phippen Street and Redclffe Way would be changed to allow traffic to turn right out of Phippen Street.

The bus gate on Redcliffe Street has been located so that private car parks could still be accessed from Victoria Street. There would be sufficient space to allow vehicles to turn around without entering the bus gate.  

There are many trees within the roundabout and it is our policy not to remove any trees unnecessarily. 

There are also a significant amount of underground utilities in the roundabout. If we changed the road layout to be something other than a roundabout we would need to relocate these services which would cost around £3 million. We would rather spend that money above ground where people can see and feel the benefits.  

The roundabout offers a U-turn faciality which is used by many vehicles travelling from the south east of the city (from Brislington/St Annes) to the train station. Vehicles can’t turn right into the train station from the A4 so they use the roundabout to turn around. We want to keep this facility. 

With this design, road space has been re-allocated to walking, cycling and public transport, with protected cycle lanes on all arms of the roundabout, as well as bus priority measures and upgraded pedestrian crossings.    

General traffic lanes would be retained so the area and destinations, such as Temple Meads, could still be accessed by private car.

The proposed changes to kerb lines avoid street trees wherever possible and detailed designs will take account of root protection to ensure trees are not damaged. Our proposals do not include removing any street trees as part of the Redcliffe Roundabout works. Additional planting and soft landscaping will be introduced at the Redcliffe Street bus gate and the area next to Freshford House.

The Local Plan designates this site as housing but no changes are proposed to this car park as part of this scheme.

The introduction of bus gates on Redcliffe Street would help prioritise buses and provide a direct route to the city centre. General traffic can still access the area via St Thomas and Phippen Street but it is likely to reduce in volume on Redcliffe Street itself. Reducing the volume and speed of traffic on Redcliffe Street will help make the environment attractive for people cycling of all ages and abilities, meaning cycle tracks aren’t needed. This is in line with national guidance on cycle design (LTN1/20).

Our proposals include introducing segregated cycle ways to provide direct, coherent, and safe routes linking people to the city centre, Temple Meads, Bedminster Bridges and south Bristol.

This would separate pedestrians and cyclists, removing the existing shared space. Shared space often creates conflict as people walking and cycling travel at different speeds. Shared space is particularly problematic for people with mobility, hearing or visual impairments as it is difficult for people to detect when someone is cycling past them.

Installing upgraded cycling facilities along Redcliffe Way reduces the need for people commuting by bike to travel along the Brunel Mile, which is currently shared space. This will help improve the walking environment and give more room for people to spread out while walking or wheeling.

Pavements would also be widened where possible with improved crossings at side roads and segregated signalised crossings across main roads.

Bus lanes and bus gates would prioritise public transport and provide continuous and segregated routes for passenger transport. Loops would detect buses on approach to junctions, which would be optimised to prioritise bus movements.

The new crossing, which separates pedestrians and cyclists, would always be on green unless a bus is approaching Redcliffe Street, which would have priority. As no other traffic will be on the road, this should be a direct and convenient route most of the time.

Widening the pavement and installing a segregated cycle track will mean re-locating Michael’s Fork in the Road snack bar. This could go in two potential locations: within the bus gate area of Redcliffe Street, or on Freshford Lane as part of the improved public space. We will engage with the business to determine which would be preferable.

Over the next 10 years around 5,000 more people will be living in this area, often in homes without private gardens. Therefore, the streets and public spaces will take on a new role acting as much needed outdoor space for these new residents, as well as continuing to serve existing residents, visitors and workers alike. 

To enhance the lives of everyone who uses this area, we want to maximise the amount of outdoor space people have access to that is free of traffic. It also offers the opportunity to introduce more landscaping and trees to help green the area and provide an environment which supports and enhances the shops and other non-residential uses. 

Pedestrianising The Horsefair and Penn Street would create the equivalent of 10 tennis courts of new public space.  

This quiet space, which people could use without fear of motorised vehicles, would improve the mental and physical health of the people living in these homes, providing a welcoming and comfortable environment for all who visit this part of the city. 

That is why we want to pedestrianise The Horsefair and Penn Street and drastically reduce the amount of motorised traffic on Union Street. We are also designing improvements to Castle Park to offer even more enhanced outdoor space for these new residents. 

Making The Horsefair and Penn Street pedestrian priority is in the adopted policy document, the Bristol City Centre Development and Delivery Plan.

Because of the pedestrianisation of The Horsefair and Penn Street, the bus stops on these streets will be closed. 

Fewer buses will be using Union Street in the future, so some stops on Union Street will be removed to make more space for pedestrians.   

A new bus stop will be introduced on Fairfax Street for buses which will start to use this route. 

Existing stops will be upgraded, for example stops B10 and B8 (eastbound outside Primark). 

It is important to note that finalising plans for the bus services and the routes they take is still being developed. We will work with bus operators to finalise the new routes using the feedback from this consultation.  Below is a detailed description of proposed bus route and stop changes

See a full list of current bus stops.

Only the section of the route where changes are proposed are listed.

Services with no changes

• 13, 25, 462, m1, m3, m3x, m4, T1, 70, 73, 74, 75, 76, T1, Y6, u3, 3X, A1
• Free hospital service
• Scheduled coaches, including National Express, Falcon & Flix
• North Somerset services (X1, X4, X6, X7, X8, X9 and U2)
• 48X and 49X

Services which would move from The Horsefair and Penn Street to Fairfax Street and Broadweir

 9 eastbound (Portway Park & Ride to Brislington Park & Ride):

• Current route via Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street (bus stops Anchor Road (A2), The Centre (C8), Broadmead, The Horsefair (B13), Penn Street (S7), and Temple Way (M1))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street (bus stops Anchor Road (A2), The Centre (C8), Fairfax Street (new stop) and Temple Way (M1))
• 9 westbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre

42, 43, 44, 45, 6, 7 eastbound (Centre to East Bristol):

• Current route via Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street (bus stops Nelson Street (B5), The Horsefair (B13), Penn Street (S11), Old Market Str (M3), Lamb Street (NE-bound))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street (bus stops Nelson Street (B5), Broad Weir (S12), Old Market Str (M3), Lamb Street (NE-bound))
• 42, 43, 44, 45, 6, 7 westbound services would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre

 8 eastbound (Clifton to Temple Meads station):

• Current route via Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Union Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street (bus stops: College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), Wine Street (B17), The Horsefair (B15), Penn Street (S7) and Temple Way (M1))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street (bus stops: College Green (P2), Nelson Street (B5), Fairfax (new stop), Broad Weir (S12), and Temple Way (M1))
• 8 westbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre

1 and 2 southbound (Cribbs Causeway to Broomhill / Stockwood):

• Current route via Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street, Broad Weir, Deansgate, Wine Street and Victoria Street (bus stops: The Centre (C8), The Horsefair (B11), Broad Weir (S10), Wine Street (B18), Bristol Bridge (R9), Victoria Street (R7), and Temple Meads Stn (T1))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir, Lower Castle Street and Temple Way (bus stops: The Centre (C8), Fairfax Street (new stop), Lower Castle Street (new stop), Temple Way (M1), Temple Way (T9) and Temple Meads Stn (T1))
• 1 and 2 northbound services would be unchanged via Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Union Street, Rupert Street and the Centre

Services which would move from Baldwin Street to Nelson Street, Fairfax Street and Broadweir:

72 southbound (UWE to Temple Meads station):

• Current route via Baldwin Street and Victoria Street (bus stops College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), Baldwin Street (R11), Bristol Bridge (R9)
• Victoria Street (R7), and Temple Meads station forecourt (T6))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir, and Temple Way (bus stops: College Green (P2), Nelson Street (B5), Fairfax (new stop), Broad Weir (S12), Temple Way (M1), Temple Way (T9) and Temple Meads station forecourt (T6)

72 northbound (Temple Meads station to UWE ):

• Current route via Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Union Street, Rupert Street and the Centre (bus stops: Temple Meads Station forecourt (T6), Victoria Street (T7), Victoria Street (R6), Bristol Bridge (R8), Union Street (B12), and The Centre (C7))
• Proposed roue via Temple Way, Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre (bus stops: Temple Meads Station forecourt (T6), Temple Way (M2), Cabot Circus South (S14), Bond Street (S8) and The Centre (C7))

 24 northbound (Ashton Vale to Southmead):

• Current route via Marsh Street, Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Newgate, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street (Bus stops: Redcliff Hill (R2), Baldwin Street (C13), Baldwin Street (R11), Wine Street (B17), Broad Weir (S12), and Old Market Street (M3))
• Proposed route via The Centre, Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street (bus stops: Redcliff Hill (R2), The Centre (C4), Nelson Street (C5), Fairfax Street (new stop), Broad Weir (S12), Old Market Streete (M3))
• 24 southbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre

3 and 4 southbound (Cribbs Causeway to The Centre):

• Current route via Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Union Street (bus stops College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), and Union Street (B14))
• Proposed route via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street and Broadweir (bus stops: College Green (P2), St Augustines Parade (C8), Fairfax (new stop) and Cabot Circus South (S14))

3 and 4 northbound (Centre to Cribbs Causeway)

• Current route via Union Street, Rupert Street and the Centre (bus stops Union Street (B12), The Centre (C7), and College Green (P1))
• Proposed route via Lower Castle Street, Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and the Centre (bus stops Fairfax (new stop), Cabot Circus South (S14), Bond Street (S6/8) OR Haymarket (B8/B10), St Augustines Parade (C7) and College Green (P1))

Routes 48 and 49 eastbound (Centre to East Bristol)

• Current route starts at The Centre, and goes via Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Newgate, Broadweir, Lower Castle Street, Old Market (Bus stops The Centre (C9), Baldwin Street (R11), Wine Street (B17), Broad Weir (S12), Old Market Street (M3))
• Proposed route would start on Rupert Street and go via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir, Lower Castle Street, Old Market (bus stops: Rupert Street (B4 or B6), Nelson Street, (B5), Broad Weir (S12), Old Market Street (M3))
• 48 and 49 westbound (East Bristol to Centre) follow the existing route via Bond Street South, Bond Street, and Rupert Street but then terminate on Rupert Street instead of continuing to The Centre.

Other proposed bus route changes:

Routes 349, 39 & x39, 522, 376, 172 southbound (Bristol to Keynsham/Bath)

• Existing route via Lower Maudlin Street, Bridewell Street, Fairfax Street, Newgate, Wine Street, Bristol Bridge, Victoria Street, Temple Meads Station (bus stops: Bus Station, Wine Street (B18), Bristol Bridge (R9), Victoria Street (R7) and Temple Meads station (T1))
• Proposed route via Lower Maudlin Street, Rupert Street, The Centre, Broad Quay, Prince Street, The Grove, Redcliffe Way, Temple Meads Station (bus stops: Bus Station, The Centre (C3 or C5) and Temple Meads station (T1))

 Routes 349, 39 & x39, 522, 376, 172 northbound (Keynsham/Bath to Bristol)

• Existing route via Temple Meads station, Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Wine Street, Union Street, Bridewell Street, Lewins Mead, The Haymarket, Marlborough Street, bus station (bus stops: Totterdown Bridge (W-bound), Temple Meads station (T2), Victoria Street (R6), Bristol Bridge (R8), Wine Street (B17), and the Bus Station)
• Proposed route via Temple Meads station (bus stop on Redcliffe Way), Redcliffe Way, The Grove, Prince Street, Broad Key, The Centre, Lewins Mead, The Haymarket, Marlborough Street, Bus Station (bus stops: Totterdown Bridge (W-bound), Temple Meads station (T4), The Centre (C4 or C6) and the Bus Station)

Most of the services that would be re-routed currently use The Horsefair and Penn Street. The services would mainly be re-routed via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street and Broad Weir. Bus stops would be moved from The Horsefair and Penn Street to Fairfax Street, and Lower Castle Street.

We also propose re-routing some other bus services that use Baldwin Street and/or Victoria Street to take advantage of the proposed changes to road layouts in the Broadmead area.

The proposals mean where you catch the bus in the Broadmead area may change. The new bus stops would be no more than a five-minute walk from their current locations.

More than half of bus services would be unaffected, including 27 local services, coaches and the free hospital bus.

The proposals retain the same number of disabled parking bays. This number will increase because of upcoming developments. For example, The Galleries development will introduce 20 new disabled parking spaces on Fairfax Street which will have lift access to Broadmead.

We have tried to keep the disabled parking spaces as close to destinations as possible, while trying to balance the desire for increased traffic-free public spaces which can be enjoyed by all.

Mobility aids can be hired from Bristol Shopmobility. Shopmobility is based in Cabot Circus near the disabled parking. They offer up to five hours of free parking from Monday to Sunday and hire of mobility equipment. Shopmobility also has a Ring ‘n Ride service within the Broadmead/Cabot Circus area, including Bristol Bus and Coach Station. This is where you can call the service and arrange to meet them at a location at an agreed time.  

Yes, three trees would need to be removed to allow the new left turn into and right turn out of Union Street to and from The Haymarket. We would replace these trees with even more than are lost, exceeding the Bristol Tree Replacement Standard.

We would create the equivalent of 10 tennis courts of new public space that could be rain gardens, trees, seating and public art. We would follow the design principles and greening and art strategy, set out in the Bristol City Centre Development and Delivery Plan, when we design these elements.

We are collecting data to understand how the city centre is used. In addition to the data collected from this consultation, we are carrying out pedestrian, cycle and traffic counts. To get a full understanding of the city, these counts are happening in and out of school holidays both on market days and non-market days.

The cycle lane is being removed to improve the pedestrian crossing and expand the pavement on the eastern side of St Pauls Street. This will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility in the area.

There is not enough road space for a segregated bus lane and a segregated cycle lane along the entire length of Bond Street.

As this scheme prioritises bus travel through this area, the space is needed to create a bus lane. 

A new cycle route - that goes initially through Bond Street and then onto parallel, quieter roads to the north - will create a safe route for cyclists travelling eastwest. We have undertaken traffic surveys to confirm that the level of traffic on these streets are suitable for an on street cycle route.  This is in line with latest national cycle design guidance, LTN1/20.

Buses already travel inbound along Newfoundland Circus, towards St James Barton Roundabout, in a segregated bus lane. We are proposing to add a new set of traffic lights near Elton Street which would stop general traffic when a bus is coming. This will allow a bus to move from the far righthand lane, to the left but one lane. We will also be adding new bus lane after these new lights to the entrance to Cabot Circus car park.

An artist impression of what this may look like is given below:

Yes, two trees would be removed to expand the road space and create a bus lane. These will be replaced in line with the Bristol Tree Replacement Strategy. We are looking at options of where to plant the new trees.

Yes. The whole city centre project will see an increase in the number of trees as well as landscaping across the area.

The following services would use this route:

• 48x
• 49x
• 8
• 6
• 7
• 24
• 43
• 42
• 41
• 45
• 44
• 5
• 48
• 47
• 46
• 49
• m4
• m3 
• m2
• m1
• T1
• Y1
• U3

Megabus, Stagecoach, Flix bus and National Express all use this route.

Eight parking spaces would be removed to make way for the proposed two-way cycleway on the south side of Portland Square, which is a one-way road. None of these eight parking spaces are blue badge parking. 

This cycle route would provide a much safer and more pleasant route from the centre to Concorde Way, which could be easily accessed from Newfoundland Road. 

We carried out a parking survey in the area and found that the bays are rarely at full capacity. The average occupancy of the parking bays on Portland Square is around 40 per cent.

The current left turn only regulation when joining Temple Way from Avon Street is being changed to a right turn only regulation. The main reason behind this is to improve the links between the new University of Bristol campus behind Temple Meads and their existing campuses in and around Clifton; it may be the route of a bus service between these locations in the future. In addition, the change allows for improved pedestrian and cycling facilities to cross Temple Way here.

The Bristol Temple Quarter project team is considering how cycle priority around Temple Meads can be improved as part of the changes being made to the station. 

Until we know exactly what type of cycle priority will be built on The Friary, the Temple Way scheme will not go all the way to the junction, so no ideas for The Friary are ruled out. 

The segregated cycle lane would not stop here permanently. It would join up to whatever comes forward for The Friary.

There are no plans to change the underpass as part of this project.

None. No parking spaces on Temple Way would be affected by this scheme.

No trees would be removed. We are looking at planting   further trees in the area and there will be additional planting and landscaping work.