Redeveloping a site near the Bristol Harbourside
123 Cumberland Road sits at the junction of Cumberland Road and Gas Ferry Road, within the City Docks Conservation Area, close to Bristol’s Harbourside. Previously occupied by a single-storey brick building and open yard — most recently used as a stonemasons — the site presented an opportunity to transform an underused plot into a high quality, residential-led mixed-use development.
Opportunities
Set in a highly sustainable and accessible location, the scheme was designed to make the most of its proximity to the city centre, the floating harbour, and key pedestrian routes. The project also offered a chance to create a building that marks the transition in character along Cumberland Road: from the rhythm of terraced housing to the more industrial architectural language associated with Spike Island.
Constraints
The evolution of the development’s design was shaped by a number of important constraints. The site lies within a Conservation Area and sits in the vicinity of two Grade II listed buildings. The nearby Aardman Animations building is locally listed and identified as a building of merit in the City Docks Conservation Area Appraisal (CDCAA), with the existing site also identified as a character building in the CDCAA. Additional considerations included the relationship with the adjacent terraced houses, the proximity of Victorian railings along the railway line — identified as a key feature in the CDCAA — and the potential for contamination due to the site’s historic use.
Key issues influencing the proposals included the varied mix of uses in the immediate and wider context, and how this diversity could be reflected within the development. The scheme also needed to respond positively to the pedestrian movement passing the site towards the floating harbour, ensuring an active and well-considered street presence.
Our team provided architecture, planning, and construction management services for the site’s redevelopment. Planning permission was secured for the transformation of the vacant building and yard, with the completed project delivering 19 new homes close to the city centre alongside 130m² of office accommodation. This has supported the creation of approximately 15–20 new jobs and contributes positively to the ongoing regeneration of the City Docks area.
