News / planning permission
Images of planned north Bristol cycling hub released
New images of how a £15m regional cycling centre in north-west Bristol would look have been released as the city council formally submitted a planning application.
The Bristol Regional Cycling Hub will be built on Henacre Open Space, a former landfill site in Lawrence Weston, and include a 1km competition track, an area to learn to ride, a car park, a modular building with facilities, and new and improved connections to the local cycle network.
A CGI of how the Bristol Regional Cycling Hub in Lawrence Weston would look
If the council gives itself planning permission, it will replace the existing Bristol Family Cycling Centre, which opened in 2010 and is based 10 miles away at the Old Whitchurch Athletics Track in Bamfield.
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That site is earmarked for 125 new homes as part of the massive Hengrove Park estate being developed by the local authority’s housing company Goram, which prompted thousands of people to sign a petition to try to save the track.
In planning documents, Bristol City Council’s consultants said the new hub would be funded by the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.
A previous bid for money from the Levelling Up fund was rejected.
The consultants said: “The proposed development aims to address the growing need for improved active travel through cycling, delivering a wide range of benefits to the community.
“Designed with inclusivity at its core, the facility will cater to individuals of all ages and abilities, encouraging new cyclists while enhancing the skills and confidence of experienced riders.
“The overarching goal is to create a safe and controlled environment where everyone, including school children and individuals with additional needs, can learn and enjoy cycling.
“The proposed development seeks to transform informal open space into formalised sports provision while retaining and enhancing portions of open space with improved footpaths and cycleways for local residents.”
Local residents have been campaigning to regenerate Whitchurch Athletics Track.
They said the competition-grade track was designed in collaboration with British Cycling for local competitions and regional championships, while the 250m training area for children and adults would be a traffic-free space for developing cycling skills and education.
The consultants said: “The community are set to gain from proposals with improvements to the existing National Cycle Network/Avon Cycleway route and public footpaths which will preserve good access across the site.
“The existing network of paths will be re-aligned and expanded, improving the accessibility of the area. The shared use path will be wider than the current one and will be well lit for safety.
“The site and buildings are fully accessible for disabled users.”
The hub is expected to open in 2027.
All images: Bristol City Council
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