Detailed plans for a new transport hub at Bristol Temple Meads station have been unveiled for the first time by the team behind the Bristol Temple Quarter project.
The new transport hub, called the “Southern Gateway”, will see the creation of a new pedestrian access into Temple Meads station, a bespoke new cycle hub, and a new multi-storey car park.
The development is part of the Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, thousands of new jobs, infrastructure, and new public spaces across 135 hectares of central Bristol.
The Southern Gateway proposals include:
- a new 350 space car park for relocation of rail passenger and staff parking, with accessible spaces, electric vehicle charging, and short stay parking for drop off and pick up
- a separate high-quality secure cycle hub for over 700 bikes, including cargo bikes and accessible cycles
- a new pedestrian access into Bristol Temple Meads station over the River Avon, dramatically improving access to and from the station for residents in the south of the city
- new bus stops and futureproofed space for mass transit
The creation of the Southern Gateway is a major milestone for the Temple Quarter project and is a critical first step in enabling the development of new homes and commercial space elsewhere.
The land around Temple Meads station is currently dominated by car parking, creating a poor experience for people arriving in the city. Much of this parking is regulated for rail staff and passengers. By relocating regulated parking into a single location at the Southern Gateway, the space to the north of station at the Friary, Station Approach, and in the Grade I listed Midland Shed can be transformed with new development, public spaces and travel routes as part of the BTQ “Northern Gateway” to create a world-class welcome to the city-region.
The Southern Gateway will connect with walking and cycling routes being planned or delivered through the Bedminster, Mead Street and Whitehouse Street regeneration areas, improving sustainable travel access to the station, particularly from the south of the city.
The BTQ team is also working closely with Bristol City Council and West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to explore options to improve the A4/Bath Road walking and cycling route as part of wider improvements to make sustainable travel easier and safer in the area.
The works are funded as part of the £95m government grant awarded to Temple Quarter in 2022 and will be the first new development delivered by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQLLP). The BTQLLP was established in 2024 by Bristol City Council, Homes England and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to drive forward the comprehensive regeneration of the area on behalf of the partners.
The BTQLLP aims to submit a planning application for the Southern Gateway in April this year. For more information and to leave any comments on the proposals, visit www.bristoltemplequarter.com
Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said:
“This is an important step along the way for Temple Quarter and for the West of England. It’s also another boost to our regional travel ambitions, utilising government funding secured by my Mayoral Combined Authority, and will help create new jobs and economic growth.
“Plans for the new Southern Gateway to Brunel’s historic station sit alongside work already underway for a new Eastern Entrance to Temple Meads itself. New spaces for bikes, electric vehicle charging, and space for further transport connections will completely change commuters’ experience of our region’s busiest station.”
Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said:
“The Southern Gateway is crucial to unlocking the potential of Temple Quarter and the land around the station. By creating a modern, high-quality transport hub we are improving travel to and from the station, all while freeing up space for the developments and public spaces the city needs. It’s exciting to see the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership up and running, driving the programme forward on behalf of the partners.”
Neil Hook, Director South and London, Homes England, said:
“The Southern Gateway is a further sign of the growing momentum behind the Temple Quarter project. While it might seem a small step on paper, in reality this is the vital first move to begin unlocking sustainable new homes and jobs on a huge scale in the centre of Bristol.”
Francis McGarry, Investment Director, Network Rail, said:
“This is another step in the transformation of Bristol Temple Meads station into a world-class transport hub. The new Southern Gateway will improve the passenger experience dramatically, both for those coming to the station to travel, and for those coming to the West of England who will finally have the welcome to Bristol that the city deserves.”
Proposals for a new entrance and car park to the south of the station have been known for some time. The Temple Quarter Development Framework, endorsed by the council’s cabinet in May 2023 following extensive public consultation, contained proposals for the new entrance. Over a third of respondents to the consultation said they would use the Southern Gateway entrance, with the highest number of these saying it would be because it was more convenient and closer to where they lived.
A new Eastern Entrance, opening into the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, is set to open in Autumn 2026. In total, Bristol Temple Meads will benefit from four new or improved entrances as part of the Temple Quarter programme.
