Bristol Case Study

Where is Bristol located?

South West England, on the River Avon, ~12 miles from the Severn Estuary.

What is the population of Bristol (2021)?

Approximately 472,500.

What is the population of the Greater Bristol Urban Area?

Around 1.1 million.

Which major roads and transport links connect Bristol?

M4 and M5 motorways; Temple Meads and Parkway train stations; Bristol Airport.

What historical event significantly shaped Bristol’s economy?

Its role in the transatlantic slave trade in the 17th–18th centuries.

Name three major industries in historical Bristol.

Tobacco (Wills), chocolate (Fry’s), coal.

How was Bristol impacted during WWII?

Over 1,300 buildings destroyed in the Blitz; led to major redevelopment.

What defines modern Bristol’s identity?

Creative, green, multicultural, protest-driven, and student-influenced.

What’s an insider’s perspective of Bristol?

Community-focused, civic pride, culturally diverse.

What’s an outsider’s perception of Bristol?

Trendy, progressive, green, arty city.

How is Bristol represented in media and culture?

Through Banksy’s street art, Skins, The Outlaws, and local music scenes.

Which globally known artist is from Bristol?

Banksy.

How does Visit Bristol market the city?

As a vibrant, green, and creative city with cultural depth, promoting people to visit especially in seasonal holidays.

What is an example of economic continuity in Bristol?

Bristol has a long-standing role as a major hub for trade and high-value industries, adapting over centuries from a historical port to a center for modern advanced engineering, digital and creative sectors.

How has the built environment changed over time?

Shift from industrial docks, medieval street structures after the blitz and deindustrialization to many brownfield sites being regenerated unlike other cities and modern enterprise zones. Also, environmentally conscious ideas have led to many green spaces and bike lanes to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Give an example of architectural change in Bristol.

Warehouses in Paintworks converted into creative studios and flats.

When was the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone launched?

2012 and an area to encourage business to relocate through tax relief and low rents.

How large is the Temple Quarter regeneration area?

Around 130/135 hectares.

What are the long term goals of the Temple Quarter regeneration zone?

• Up to 10,000 new homes.

• Over 22,000 new jobs.

• A £1.6 billion annual boost to the city’s economy

• All within 25 years.

Name three key developments in the Temple Quarter zone.

The new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, the overall refurbishment and new eneteraces of Bristol Temple Meads station, and the creation of a new ,mixed-use neighbourhood at Temple Island.

What are two benefits of Temple Quarter regeneration?

• Reuse of brownfield land

• Sustainable economic growth through tech industries.

• Job creation, new homes and sustainable transport infrastructure.

What are two challenges of the regeneration?

• Risk of gentrification displacing local residents

• Increased social inequality as the benefits of regeneration are often not distributed and go to newcomers not original inhabitants.

What is the income deprivation rate in Stoke Bishop vs Lawrence Hill?

7% in Stoke Bishop; 47% in Lawrence Hill.

Compare child poverty rates between the two areas.

6% in Stoke Bishop; 41% in Lawrence Hill.

What is the difference in life expectancy for men?

83 years in Stoke Bishop; 74 years in Lawrence Hill.

What is the ethnic makeup contrast between the two?

Stoke Bishop is 87% White British; Lawrence Hill is only 30% White British.

What are the GCSE attainment rates in Lawrence Hill compared to Stoke Bishop?

79% in Stoke Bishop; 49% in Lawrence Hill.

Name some of the main migrant groups in Bristol.

Somali, Polish, Caribbean, Pakistani.

How many languages are spoken in Bristol?

Over 90.

What impact did EU enlargement in 2004 have on Bristol?

Increased migration from Eastern Europe, especially Poland.

Name two twin cities of Bristol.

Bordeaux (France), Guangzhou (China).

What international companies operate in Bristol?

Airbus, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, EDF.

Who was Edward Colston?

A 17th-century slave trader and philanthropist from Bristol.

What happened to his statue in June 2020?

Toppled by BLM protestors and thrown into Bristol Harbour.

Where is the statue now?

Displayed in M Shed Museum with historical interpretation.

What was the public response to the statue's removal?

Divided – some saw it as criminal damage, others as anti-racist action.

What group was formed after the event to discuss Bristol’s history?

“We Are Bristol” History Commission.

What title did Bristol win in 2015?

European Green Capital.

What is Bristol’s carbon neutrality goal?

Net-zero carbon by 2030.

What % of Bristol is green space?

Around 30%.

Name two major green projects in Bristol.

• City Leap Energy Partnership which is a public-private venture between Bristol City Council and energy firms aimining to invest over £1 billion in low-carbon energy infrastructure.

• Solar Bristol which incorporates various local initiatives and businesses promoting solar energy in Bristol.

What percentage of people walk or cycle to work?

Around 20%.

Name one urban farming/community green initiative.

Windmill Hill City Farm which is a community-run urban farm and resource center offering farmyard animals, gardens and educational programmes.

What are endogenous factors shaping Bristol?

• Physical geography as the meeting of the Rivers Avon and Frome, forming a natural harbour leading to its significant port industry.

• Historical and economic factors as wealth from the slave trade led to the growth of the city and industrialization led to the growth of service sectors and the regeneration of past infrastructure.

• The built environment as redevelopment of the harbour side for instance into tech hubs changed the identity of Bristol.

• Demographics with people from over 180 countries contributes to its vibrant character.

What are exogenous factors shaping Bristol?

• Globalisation and investment as inward investment (FDI) and international trade flows have boosted sectors such as aerospace and defence.

• Migration as inflows of people seeking opportunities in tech for instance has increased diversity and also led to increases in young professionals gentrifying and bringing wealth.

• Tourism into the city fuels the economy through jobs and spending but also brings challenges like more expensive housing and more seasonal jobs leading to unsteady incomes.

How is Bristol a contested place?

• Through debates over housing and developments as locals want to see more affordable homes while developer interests contrast this.

• Social identity clashes over issues such as migration seen following the southport attack that took place in the city between anti-migration groups and counter protesters.

Give an example of shifting place meaning in Bristol.

The Colston statue: once pride in philanthropy, now symbol of racism and protest.

How is place representation shaped by media?

Through art (Banksy), TV shows (Skins, Outlaws), music, and tourism campaigns.

What does the Temple Quarter show about continuity and change?

Old industrial areas are being transformed into high-tech, mixed-use zones.

Out of the UK where does Bristol rank for most foreign visitors?

8th most popular city for foreign visitors in the UK.

How many students and of what background does the University of Bristol have?

The University of Bristol has more than 6,750 international students from more than 150 countries

How has the slave trade impacted Bristol?

Bristol’s history as a major player in the transatlantic slave trade links it to many parts of the globe, especially the Caribbean and Africa. This shared history has influenced its diverse population and cultural heritage.

How many silicon chips made in Bristol?

Bristol has the largest concentration of silicon chip manufacture outside California

How many docks and how many cars are imported?

Today, there are two major docks, located at Avonmouth and Royal Podbury, 550,000 to 700,000 cars are imported annually to the UK’s most centrally located deep sea port.

An example of how Bristol is trying to disassociate with it’s slaving past?

An illustration of this is the renaming of Colston Hall, originally named after a slave trader, to Bristol Beacon to dissociate from its past.

How many slaving ships and slaves were transported via Bristol?

• Bristol was a major port involved in the transatlantic slave trade.

• Merchants dispatching over 2,000 slave ships between 1698 and 1807. These voyages transported an estimated 500,000 enslaved Africans to the Americas for forced labor

What percentage of population growth until 2015 was attributed to overseas migration?

Until 2015, approximately half of Bristol’s population growth could be attributed to overseas migration, with 15% of the population born outside the UK.

What percentage of the 2021 Census of Bristol were people born outside the UK?

The 2021 Census indicates the percentage of people living in Bristol born outside of the UK has increased to 18.8%.

How is Bristol’s unemployment rate changing and particularly what sector?

Significant growth has been witnessed in Bristol’s tertiary (service-oriented) and quaternary (high-tech) sectors. As of 2015, the city boasted an unemployment rate below the UK average. Furthermore, the employment growth rate in Bristol is forecasted to outpace that of the UK overall.

How many firms in Bristol for silicon design and micro-electronics?

The city is a hotspot for micro-electronic and silicon design businesses, boasting 50 firms – the largest cluster outside California’s Silicon Valley.

What global companies have set up in Bristol?

Global companies like Aardman Animations, Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba have set up bases in Bristol

How close do residents live to parklands or waterways?

Bristol boasts a rich array of open spaces, with over a third of the city dedicated to such areas and over 90 per cent of residents living within 350m of parklands or waterways

How large is the green economy?

The green economy within the city has shown promising growth, with a current annual rate as high as 4.7 per cent.

How many new jobs does the city want in low carbon industries?

Furthermore, the city is dedicated to expanding job opportunities in low-carbon industries, aiming to increase the current 9000 jobs to 17000 by 2030

What tech giant has invested in Bristol?

Furthermore, the Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei, has made substantial investments in the city.

What did the government do to attract tech firms?

• These include a £100 million government grant establishing Bristol as a SuperConnected City with broadband download speeds of at least 80Mbps.

• In the 1980s the government invested over £200m into Inmos, a silicon chip developer, establishing Bristol as a significant tech player and inspiring a cluster of related business.

What green goals have the city undertaken?

• Elevating Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) to top conservation condition by 2026

• Designating 27 per cent of the city as part of a wildlife network

• Setting objectives for wildlife in non-natural habitats like cemeteries

• Achieving a tree coverage of 30 per cent across the city

What are Replant Bristol trying to achieve?

In 2019 the ‘Replant Bristol‘ campaign was launched, with the target to plant 250 000 new trees by 2030 to contribute to the city’s carbon neutral goal by 2050.

What percentage of people in Bristol are deprived?

According to the 2021 Census, 31.8% of households are deprived in one dimension (from education, employment, health, or housing).

How have house prices changed?

2010, average house prices were £168050. However, this more than doubled by January 2023, when average prices reached £356686

How much social housing is there in Bristol?

There is also a lack of social housing, with only 6% of Bristol’s properties owned by private registered providers of social housing (e.g. housing associations) compared to 10% across England.

How much homelessness is there in Bristol?

Bristol has the highest rate of homelessness in the southwest of England. It was estimated that 1972 people were homeless in the city in 2021. Bristol is in the top 20% across England for the rate of people recorded as homeless as a proportion of the population.

Are there lots of commuter towns?

Towns such as Clevedon in North Somerset and Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire have become popular commuter settlements. Following the abolition of the Severn Bridge tolls in 2018, more people are opting to live in South Wales, where the cost of property is generally lower.

What areas have highest unemployment?

However, there are significant inequalities with high levels of unemployment in the south of the city and close to the city centre. The map below shows differences in unemployment rates across Bristol.

How much waste does Bristol produce annually?

The city still produces about 140,000 tonnes of garbage yearly

How many firms from the creative, digital and green industries have moved into the area due to the enterprise zone of the temple quarter regeneration?

Almost 400 firms from the creative, digital and green industries have moved into the area.

What is the Temple Gate Scheme?

The Temple Gate Scheme: The Temple Gate scheme involved the redevelopment of the area in front of Temple Meads railway station. The railway station was redeveloped into a transport hub. It included segregated pedestrian and cycle routes, new pedestrian and cycle crossings, improved transport facilities and a new Metrobus stop and the creation of bus priority lanes.

What did the University of Bristol have to do with the temple quarter regeneration?

University of Bristol’s new campus: The establishment of a new campus focused on digital and business technologies. It includes Brunel’s Engine Shed, an Enterprise Hub led by the University of Bristol. The building is home to a range of high-tech and creative businesses. Boxworks, a collection of 20 custom-designed shipping containers as workspaces, is located next to Engine Shed.

How was the Temple Quarter regeneration done?

Mixed-use development: The project included a blend of residential, commercial, and public spaces.

How has the Temple Quarter regeneration changed Bristol environmentally?

Sustainability: The emphasis on green and energy-efficient construction has contributed to Bristol’s reputation as a green city.

How has the Temple Quarter regeneration project changed transport links?

Improved connectivity: Transport and accessibility improvements have better integrated the area with the wider city.

Where is the harbourside located?

In central Bristol along the River Avon

Why did the harbourside fall into decline?

Due to containerisation and the relocation of port activity to Avonmouth in the 1960s-70s

What type of site was the Harbourside before regeneration?

A derelict, post-industrial brownfield site

Name two cultural facilities created during regeneration?

M Shed Museum and We are Curious (science centre)

Two positive impacts of the Harbourside regeneration?

Increased tourism and job creation in the leisure and culture sectors

Two negative impacts of the harbourside regeneration?

Gentrification and rising house prices pricing out local residents

How has the identity of the harbourside changed?

From a rundown industrial area to a vibrant,cultural and residential hub

What does the regeneration show about place representation?

Places can be rebranded through culture, investment, and media to attract new people and capital.

What did developers do to prepare the Harbourside site for regeneration?

Cleared old warehouses, decontaminated the land, and reused some historic features to preserve heritage.

What is 'We The Curious' and how does it fit into regeneration?

It’s an interactive science centre designed to attract families, schools, and tourists.

How did the regeneration make the area more accessible?

Improved transport links, pedestrian bridges, and better integration with the city centre.

What was the aim of including cultural and creative spaces in the regeneration?

To rebrand the area as vibrant and modern, boosting tourism and civic pride.

What role did the Watershed play in regeneration?

It became a digital arts and media centre, supporting Bristol’s creative industries.

How does place meaning vary between different groups in Bristol?

Young professionals may see the city as vibrant and innovative, while long-term residents may feel displaced by gentrification.

What impact has the Temple Quarter regeneration had on housing affordability?

It has increased housing prices and rents, making the area less affordable for some local residents

What is a key social criticism of the temple quarter regeneration project?

It may lead to gentrification and displacement of lower-income communities.

How does Bristol demonstrate the influence of globalisation on place?

Bristol's regeneration and economy reflect globalisation through foreign investment, global cultural branding (e.g., Banksy’s international fame), and migration. However, this has also led to tensions, as global forces reshape local spaces, often marginalising existing communities.

What are 3 important sports teams in Bristol?

Bristol City, Bristol Bears and Bristol Rovers which all bring visitors to the city and encourage local pride.

How many people go to university in Bristol?

In Bristol, there are approximately 65,000 students attending the University of Bristol and University of the West of England.