For many years, ideas for redeveloping the Western Harbour (Cumberland Basin) have been proposed and put out for public consultation. The latest of these – a draft masterplan – has been developed and Bristol City Council sought views on it from across the city. You may well have seen the many posters encouraging your response to the consultation around the local area, joined a webinar or attended one of the public exhibitions of the plans.

The aim is to transform the western end of the Floating Harbour, an area including Cumberland Basin, Spike Island, Ashton Meadows, Butterfly Junction and the surrounding road network. The plan proposes removing redundant access roads leaving a single spine road, replacing or repairing the road bridges, and building up to 1,200 new homes. The proposals would create flood defences, while also claiming to provide space for nature, including around 1000 new trees, improved connections for cyclists and pedestrians, and a range of new outdoor leisure opportunities.

The “current” image does name Butterfly Junction (number 10), probably as FrANC submitted a response to an earlier consultation. The “proposed” image appears to have man-made structures and a tidy green rectangle instead. It must be stressed that the final details of any development are not yet finalised and may be many years away, but it is important that FrANC expresses (and continues to express) its concerns to protect wildlife habitat and diversity as well as the history and utility of the Avon New Cut. 

The FrANC committee has submitted this response to the consultation:

Friends of the Avon New Cut (FrANC) was formed in 2006 by a group of local people to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the Avon New Cut, a man-made tidal waterway. FrANC has a membership of over 200 people who share a keen interest in helping the natural environment of the Avon New Cut to thrive, so locals and visitors can enjoy this green corridor in the heart of Bristol.

We understand the reasoning for the proposed redevelopment of Western Harbour and have read the documentation presented by Bristol City Council and its masterplanning team. FrANC wishes to see the unique ecological environment of the Avon New Cut, and the contribution it makes to the Bristol’s history, cultural life and environment, enhanced by any development and are willing to engage further with the council’s masterplanners to positively influence the design proposals. 

Our main points of feedback are that: 

• • We are concerned that the masterplan replaces Butterfly Junction (a patch of land North East of Ashton Avenue Bridge which our active volunteer group meets monthly to manage). As plans aim to incorporate Green Space FrANC asks directly whether the plans could be adapted to retain and protect this small and ecologically important area, which in turn will support continued nature recovery and enhancements (with our group’s ongoing support).
  • Nature recovery requires connected habitats in urban areas for wildlife to move through. The New Cut provides a unique opportunity for wildlife by supporting a biodiverse ecological green corridor along its banks. FrANC is keen to understand how the development impacts on the delivery of the One City Ecological Emergency strategy and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
  • FrANC is an active and welcoming volunteer group that delivers social value by involving people in social, ecologically beneficial and physically active volunteering. We would like to raise the profile of FrANC as a local group which offers local residents opportunity to successfully integrate with existing local communities, stay physically active and to take action for nature and the environment outside their homes. Please do keep us updated and stay in touch with us about any opportunities for formal links and connections between these plans and FrANC going forward.