What we're doing, when it will happen, potential impact and how we're funding the works.
Construction work to create a continuous surface and replace 5 trees should start in The Centre early in 2025.
What's happening
Construction work to create a continuous surface and replace 5 trees should start in The Centre early in 2025.
The work will take place on a section of Centre Promenade in Bristol city centre, between the Neptune statue and the Cascade Steps.
Work will include:
- filling in the 3 sunken fountains that no longer work
- creating artwork on a new surface that extends over the fountains and wooden decking
- building platforms over 3 sets of steps to make room for street traders
- replacing 5 trees that have outgrown their planters with blossoming trees
- repairing the damaged planters and paving
- planting flowerbeds and plants for pollinators
Plan of the area
What we will do
Fountains and decking area
The 3 sunken fountains are broken and beyond repair. They'll be filled in and the old wooden decking removed so the area can be covered over with the same buff-coloured high friction surface.
The water features were installed in 2000. From the start they've been challenging and expensive to run consistently because of the limited water storage tank capacity and below ground mechanical operating system.
In 2022 they were deemed to be beyond repair and at end of life.
The fountains are the main feature of Centre Promenade. As they no longer work and take up valuable space, we need to redesign the area.
Some of the funding for these works is coming from savings made from not operating the fountains.
Platforms over 3 sets of steps that run alongside Broad Quay in between the tree planters will be built so they can be used for extra concessions, such as food stalls.
Creating a flat surface across this whole area will mean there's more space for events, the harbour market, and people walking, wheeling and cycling through the thriving central area.
The project does not include any changes to the Cascade Steps.
Replacing 5 trees
The Centre Promenade works include removing 5 London plane trees (Platanus X hispanica) and replacing them with 5 smaller blossoming trees (Cercis siliquastrum) more suited to growing in raised planters.
We need to do this as the large trees, planted in 2000, have outgrown their shallow planters and do not have enough room for their roots, which are pushing out of the planters and damaging them.
London plane trees can grow to a height of over 30m with a crown spread of around 25m. The planters only go down to a soil depth of between 70cm and 100cm, which is not enough earth for the growing trees.
If the trees are left as they are, the trees could become unstable, posing a risk to people in the area.
To fix the planters we need to reset the coping stones and re-fit the loose cladding. The trees need to be removed to allow this to happen successfully. Damage to the tree roots would likely lead to the trees becoming unstable, which would be a risk to the public, especially in such a busy area.
We've looked at other options, such as building larger planters or cutting back the root systems and the crown of the trees. However, both these options do not deal with the problem of the shallow planters in the long-term and could also lead to the trees failing and becoming unstable. We cannot replant the trees elsewhere as they are so large that, to remove them safely, they need to be felled in sections.
The sections of felled trees will be turned into woodchip that will be used to fuel bio-mass boilers in various buildings, including some public buildings like schools and leisure facilities. It will also be used to mulch around the base of next year's newly planted trees.
We've been working with arboricultural specialists to explore all the options, with a presumption that existing trees should be preserved, but we have concluded that replacing the trees with a more suitable species is the best way forward.
These works will not impact the rest of the trees in the area.
Commitment to trees
As a council, we're committed to increasing the number of trees in Bristol with 100,000 trees planted since 2015 as part of the One Tree Per Child and Trees for Streets programmes.
When this is happening
Depending on contractor availability, the work is set to be carried out early in 2025 to take advantage of the winter tree planting season. It is expected to take up to 3 months to complete.
Access throughout the works and harbour market
Throughout the works, the middle of Centre Promenade will be fenced off. This won't impact the pavement running alongside Broad Quay, which will remain open.
The bus stops on Broad Quay will also remain open and in use. When the trees are felled, there may be some disruption. The current plan is to remove the trees early in the morning and potentially on a Sunday, which is at the quietest time.
The harbour market will not be able to run in this location during the works, but other sites are being considered.
The cycle track to the side of the work area will remain open and pedestrian routes will be signposted.
Improving the cycle route through The Centre
As part of this project, we're reviewing the cycle route through Centre Promenade and considering options to make it more visible to reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. This will follow on from the initial improvement works.
Funding
The Centre Promenade works are projected to cost around £365,000.
This is being funded from different sources, including:
- City Centre and High Street programme funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority
- Bristol City Council through highways capital, harbourside development, harbour estate repair maintenance, and section 106 funding for trees