East Bristol enters second phase of Liveable Neighbourhood trial

An ongoing scheme to turn East Bristol into a Liveable Neighbourhood has entered its second phase of development.

Liveable neighbourhoods are areas of a city that are improved to be people centred and more ‘liveable’, in terms of factors such as safety, health and inclusivity. This can take the form of anything from increasing cycle lanes and planting trees, to providing more benches or installing street lighting.

The East Bristol project is the first liveable neighbourhood pilot in Bristol, covering Barton Hill, parts of Redfield and St George, south of St George and north of the River Avon.

East Bristol was chosen for a number of reasons, including its high density population, mixed demographic, its susceptibility as an urban heat area, and its position as a major traffic zone towards the city centre.

A map of the East Bristol neighbourhood showing the total number of pedestrians and cycle, note the higher density zones along Church Road

After the initial ‘co-discover’ phase, in which residents were invited to give feedback about what they love and what they would change about their neighbourhoods, the trial is now in the co-development phase.

The co-development phase has been exploring how to reduce ‘rat-running’ in the area, as well as speeding and making safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists through a series of workshops running throughout October.

Residents from the neighbourhood and other parts of Bristol are being invited to have their say on how they want this area to be shaped through an online and in-person design toolkit. The design toolkit offers a range of possible solutions to the issues raised during the co-discover phase of engagement.

Cards with each of the solutions are provided at the workshops as well as online, with information on what they are, how they can help what the drawbacks may be and whether they could be trialled with temporary materials to understand how they work. They are also split into three categories: main roads, local streets and community assets.

Mayor Marvin Rees made a manifesto commitment to test Liveable Neighbourhoods in Bristol in 2021, and the hope is that the success of this trial will drive further Liveable Neighbourhood schemes in Bristol.

A recent temporary cycling lane on Park Row faced criticism after a number of plastic bollards were knocked down by oncoming cars, with many residents on Twitter calling out the shoddy design of the bollards. Those working on the design toolkit have stressed the temporary nature of the trial, and insist permanent infrastructure will be of higher quality.

Liveable neighbourhoods have been trialled already in London, Manchester, Glasgow and Bath where, during lockdown, specific areas were demarcated as ‘liveable zones’. This would often mean a reduction in traffic, cleaner air and a safer neighbourhood. The outcome has invariably been welcomed by residents in the area.

To see the full list of East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood project workshops here. The design toolkits are also available online.

All photos: Mia Vines Booth

Read next:

• ‘Liveable neighbourhoods will improve the lives of Bristol’s children’
• ‘Traffic filters will create more liveable neighbourhoods’
• What you need to know about Bristol’s clean air zone charges
• The Bristol areas most vulnerable to heat revealed

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