Supporting Bristol’s science sector through planning, evidence, engagement, creativity and innovation.
Bristol’s science sector provides great potential for regional economic growth. It has strong links to the city’s universities as well as to established and emerging science businesses. However, the sector’s needs here have not been adequately met by the property market.
In 2016, we secured permission for our client Science Creates to develop a facility in St Philips, which is now home to some of the city’s most innovative science and engineering companies. It was established in Bristol in response to a lack of laboratory space and support for the region’s science companies, which prevented start-ups from forming and staying here. It provides facilities, investment and mentoring for science sector entrepreneurs delivering solutions to big societal challenges.
Just two years later, the St Philips facility was at 100% capacity, accommodating 37 companies (80% of which are affiliated to University of Bristol) and with a long waiting list for space. It demonstrated a huge demand for city centre science sector space and needed to expand into new premises to repeat this success. So in 2019, we worked again with Science Creates to define premises requirements for an extra facility and identify a suitable location near St Philips where planning permission could be obtained.
However, due to policy encouraging redevelopment of some industrial floorspace and high development values, this was a challenge. After Science Creates located the ideal building in Bristol’s Old Market area, we needed to gain a change of use rapidly to secure the deal. Knowing its potential value to the city, all parties (client, Council, local neighbourhood planning forum and Nash Partnership) worked efficiently to help secure the space. A positive decision was reached extraordinarily quickly (under 8 weeks, spanning Christmas).
We also:
- Identified the most effective sustainability solutions
- Assessed highways/parking impacts
- Determined M&E requirements
- Identified how development would engage with the local Neighbourhood Plan
- Tailored (with the architect) the development to the sector’s needs whilst meeting policy requirements
- Engaged the LPA and neighbourhood forum to ensure we met the target decision date and avoided pre-commencement conditions (essential to securing the leasehold).
As a result of the successful application, the Old Market incubator provides 30,000ft² of R&D, office and events space in an area identified as a key regeneration focus. Permission was secured in 2020 and the Old Market space opened in November 2021. It will build on Bristol’s economic strengths, address future challenges and drive innovation to make a vital contribution to economic growth.
In April 2021, the Old Market incubator space was shortlisted for a national ‘Planning Award’ in the ‘Promoting Economic Growth‘ category.
