News / Development
Affordable homes ‘central ambition’ for Temple Island despite developers asking for reduction
The developers of a major mixed-use scheme on Temple Island say that a “central ambition” for the site “is delivering affordable homes” – despite recently submitting a financial viability assessment asking Bristol City Council to drop their original requirement of 20 per cent of the flats being affordable homes.
The likely reduction of the number of affordable homes on the land next to Temple Meads follows Bristol City Council’s recent easing of affordable housing requirements for developers.
Legal & General (L&G) are now hoping to work with government agency Homes England and the council in order to keep 106 affordable homes as part of their plans for Temple Island.
The council spent £32m of public money in getting the land previously earmarked for an arena ready, including decontamination, before disposing of the site to financial services provider L&G as part of a 250-year lease agreement.
The council also guaranteed L&G rent on the office space for 40 years, an offer deemed “necessary” by former mayor Marvin Rees to secure the investment.
Bristol City Council planning officers are now recommending the approval of L&G’s plans for a mixed-use development of up to 520 homes, new offices and a hotel with conference facilities.
World-renowned architects Zaha Hadid designed the masterplan and building concepts for Temple Island, with LDA Design in charge of the public and landscaped areas – image: Legal & General
An L&G spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “A central ambition for Temple Island is delivering affordable homes in the heart of Bristol.
“L&G continues to work closely with Bristol City Council and Homes England to fulfil its commitment to bring forward one of the residential blocks as affordable housing.
“This approach ensures value for taxpayers by enabling public investment to work alongside institutional pension capital, and is essential to keeping major mixed‑tenure housing schemes deliverable in the current market.”
Temple Island was previously known as Arena Island – photo: Martin Booth
The L&G spokesperson added: “Our plan for Temple Island represents a real opportunity to transform the former diesel depot site into a vibrant new part of the city, and we’re pleased to see the planning officer recommend our hybrid application for approval.
“After years of the site standing empty, we look forward to continuing to work with our long‑term partners to develop the site into a thriving neighbourhood with new high‑quality homes for local families, commercial space that attract good jobs and new investment, and a wide range of amenities for the public to enjoy.”
Entrances to Temple Island from Bath Road will create new connections between south Bristol and Temple Meads – image: Legal & General
In their report to councillors on Bristol City Council’s planning committee B, which is due to meet at City Hall on April 1, planning officers wrote: “The application proposal would secure the sustainable development of a brownfield site in the city centre, close to a key public transport hub.
“It will secure significant benefits for the city overall including up to 520 new homes, two new office buildings and retail spaces, a hotel and a flexible community use building.
“It will deliver significant economic benefits including approximately 3,000 full-time jobs.
“The application proposal has been assessed against adopted local plan policy having regard to national guidance, principally set out in the NPPF, 2024.
“Reference has also been made to emerging local planning policy and relevant emerging masterplan work set out in the St. Philip’s Marsh, Supplementary Planning Document, published for consultation in December 2025.
“The development proposed complies with this policy and there are no material considerations to outweigh this compliance.
“This application is supported and planning permission is recommended.”
Main image: Legal & General
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
