St Philip's Marsh, page 7: St Philip's Marsh Development Framework - key themes, continued

Public Realm and the Built Environment

The structure and character of the public realm and built environment should be defining elements of St Philip’s Marsh. Key design principles should include:

• A variety of types of features and character
• Integrate more active forms of travel and public transport
• Strong frontages along streets
• Active ground floor uses and ‘spill out’ space
• Landmarks in key locations
• Green spaces and features integrated throughout the public realm and built environment, supporting biodiversity, sustainable drainage and access to nature
• Lighting and evening activity
• Space for outside activity including facilitating markets and outdoor performance
• Integration of public art throughout the built environment
• Opportunities for community involvement and co-design of public realm, facilitated by local artists
  
  

Key open spaces

There should be a focal public space within walking distance of residents, and which supports each neighbourhood centre. These key open spaces could include:

Parks and landscapes

• Avon Greenway – a linear riverside park providing access to nature and links to cycling, running and walking routes. Flood defences could be incorporated into the landscape.
• Sparke Evans Park – a regenerated community park with mature trees, recreation spaces, children’s play spaces and a riverside café.

Pocket open spaces

• Neighbourhood gardens – small urban green spaces with outdoor seating, exercise equipment and children’s play, co-located with primary schools where appropriate.
• Avon Greenway Connecting Spaces – small green spaces providing access and views to the river side area.

Urban public realm

• Feeder Canal Promenade – A linear route providing access to the canal side.
• Neighbourhood squares – small urban spaces at key points in street network, with opportunities for street life and local retail.
• Main boulevards and other streets – a network of high-quality streets integrating landscaping and trees.

Recreation

• Netham Park – A large, mature park with substantial sports and recreational facilities within walking distance of St Philip's Marsh.
  
  

Open Space and Green Infrastructure 

The information in the previous section sets out the type of spaces that could be considered. This section looks at the principles for open space and green infrastructure.

The principles for open space and green infrastructure should contribute to environmental sustainability and resilience.

Nature and biodiversity 

Nature should be integrated throughout St Philip's Marsh, supporting a very significant net increase in biodiversity, and ensuring that all residents and visitors have access to natural spaces.

The design of the River Avon Greenway, Feeder Canal promenade and railway embankments should be enhanced as wildlife corridors.

In addition, railway embankments make important contributions to wildlife in the area and should form part of an emerging network of corridors.

Streets and open spaces present opportunities for native planting including wildflowers, grassland and trees.

Example of landscape designed for biodiversity and water resilience: Grey-to-Green, Sheffield

Enhanced and resilient waterways

Regenerating St Philip’s Marsh provides the opportunity to enhance the River Avon and Feeder Canal corridors as significant open space and green infrastructure. These waterway corridors have the potential to become significant attractions for the wider city. Opportunities include play and exercise trails, riverside walkways, seating and boat moorings. The area is currently subject to significant flood risk, which will be addressed through provision of new infrastructure. Flood defence infrastructure must be carefully designed and integrated with the waterside landscape to ensure that the sense of connection between the city and the water is not lost.

There are opportunities for features such as rain gardens and sustainable drainage throughout the area.

Play, sports and recreation

Formal and informal play facilities to meet the need of all ages and abilities should be located throughout the area. Total provision should meet or exceed Bristol City Council's policy of 10sqm per child. In addition, formal recreational spaces could include courts and multi-use games areas (MUGAs), to complement facilities at Netham Park.

Examples of imaginative play spaces:

Green buildings and blocks 

Opportunities should be explored within designs including communal gardens, roof terraces, balconies, front gardens, green roofs, and street planting.

Enabling infrastructure 

The transformation of St Philip's Marsh set out in this Development Framework will depend on significant investment in new infrastructure. This could also require land acquisition and relocation of existing businesses. Key infrastructure and works to enable redevelopment could include:

• Flood defences – currently envisaged by Bristol City Council as being along the south side of Feeder Canal and north bank of the River Avon
• A Resilient Access Network – a network of streets above flood levels to provide safe access and egress
• Land remediation for contamination
• District heating
• Pumping stations, drainage and utilities
• Bridges to improve access and walking and cycling connectivity
  
  

Survey, interactive map, and share your ideas

The survey, interactive map, and ideas board are now closed. Results will be published on this site in due course.

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