Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone facts for kids
The Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone is a special area in Bristol, England. It's designed to help new and growing businesses. This zone focuses on creative, high-tech, and environmentally friendly industries.
It covers about 70 hectares (173 acres) and is built around the Bristol Temple Meads railway station. This station is currently being updated. The zone also includes areas like Temple Quay, Silverthorne Lane, and Avon Riverside. It's home to the planned Bristol Arena and the University of Bristol's new Temple Quarter Campus.
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Creating the Zone
The idea for the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone was announced in March 2011. It officially started in 2012. The zone makes it easier for businesses to get permission to build. It also offers lower business taxes.
The money from these lower taxes helps five other special areas in the region. These "Enterprise Areas" each focus on different types of businesses:
- Avonmouth: For making and distributing goods.
- Bath: For media and publishing companies.
- Emersons Green: Including the Bristol and Bath Science Park.
- Filton: For high-tech companies.
- Weston-super-Mare: For business services.
Several groups work together to develop the zone. These include the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, Bristol City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and Network Rail.
Station and Its Surroundings
Network Rail is improving the Bristol Temple Meads railway station. This is part of a bigger project to electrify the Great Western railway line. Once finished, train journeys from Temple Meads to London Paddington station will be much faster.
The road leading to the station will become a public square. The main entrance to the station will move to the north side. In 2015, the council also announced changes to the roads around the station. This includes removing a roundabout to make it safer for people walking and cycling.
Near the station, the Temple Gate area is being developed. It's becoming a hub for creative and digital businesses. Old buildings like Bristol and Exeter House and Temple Studios have been updated. Temple Studios opened in 2013.
Engine Shed is a new project inside the Old Station building. This building was designed by the famous engineer Brunel. Engine Shed opened in December 2013. It helps new tech companies (called startup companies) grow. It provides office space and support for these businesses.
By 2015, Engine Shed was full. So, a temporary solution called Boxworks was built nearby. It was made quickly using 20 shipping containers. This extra space was planned until a bigger Engine Shed 2 could be built.
Temple Quarter Campus
In November 2016, the University of Bristol announced big plans. They will build a new £300 million campus called the Temple Quarter Campus. It will be located just east of the station. This new campus will replace an old, empty sorting office building.
The campus will have space for about 5,000 students. It will include a new business school, digital research facilities, and student housing. The university expects the campus to open in 2021. Engine Shed 2 will also be part of this new campus.
Arena Island
One of the biggest development sites in the zone is called 'Arena Island'. It's south of the station, across the River Avon. This area used to be a train depot.
In February 2014, Bristol Council agreed to fund the Bristol Arena. The total funding for the arena is £91 million. In March 2015, the company chosen to design the arena was announced as Populous.
In 2013, money was set aside to build an £11 million road bridge over the river. This bridge connects Cattle Market Road to the arena site. The 63-meter-long bridge was built between March and September 2015. It has lanes for cars, bikes, and people walking. In March 2016, the bridge was named Brock's Bridge, after a local builder named William Brock.
Temple Quay
Temple Quay is an area with a mix of different buildings. It has offices, homes, and shops. It's located northwest of the station, where a train goods yard used to be.
Development of Temple Quay started in 1998. By 2002, much of the area south of Bristol Floating Harbour was finished. A new phase, called Temple Quay North, began on the other side of the harbour.
In 2015, a business incubator called Entrepreneurial Spark opened in Temple Quay North. It's located in the Royal Bank of Scotland's Trinity Quay building. This hub helps new businesses (startups) by giving them free space, facilities, and advice.
Avon Riverside
The Avon Riverside area stretches along the A4 Bath Road. This area is sometimes called Bristol's 'media mile'. It includes a place called Paintworks, which already has a mix of businesses.
The next stage of Paintworks will be a 'creative skills hub'. This hub will focus on digital and media businesses. It's being developed with a group called Creative Skillset.
