🏢 Environmental problems
There was a lot of derelict land and empty buildings on land that had been used before. Large areas looked run down and unattractive, which put people off visiting.
A UK City: Bristol » Regenerating Bristol: Temple Quarter
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
AQA spec: 3.2.1
- What urban regeneration is and why some areas need it
- Why the Temple Quarter area of Bristol needed regeneration
- The main features of the Temple Quarter project
- How to write about a regeneration project in the exam
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Unlock This CourseWhat is urban regeneration?
Regeneration brings new life and jobs to run-down areas
Cities never stand still. Some parts grow and thrive, while others are left behind when the industries around them close. Over time, these parts can become run down, empty and unattractive.
Urban regeneration is the investment of money and effort to bring new life to a run-down urban area. The aim is to make the area a better place to live, work and visit. The spec asks you to know one example. You need to show why the area needed regeneration and the main features of the project.
Our example is Temple Quarter in Bristol. Remember, dereliction and brownfield sites are problems that cities face. Temple Quarter is a real answer to those problems.
Key terms:
- Urban regeneration: investment that brings new life to a run-down urban area.
- Enterprise Zone: an area where the government encourages new businesses to set up and grow, often with extra support such as tax breaks.
- Mixed-use development: a project that combines homes, workplaces and public spaces in one area.
Where is Temple Quarter?
Temple Quarter sits in the heart of Bristol, right next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. The station is the city's main rail hub, and it is only a short distance from the city centre.
This is a very good location. People can reach it by train, bus and bicycle. Even so, for many years much of the land around the station was not used well.
Why did the area need regeneration?
The land around Temple Meads was once busy with railways, industry and warehouses. As old industries closed or moved away, many buildings and large sites were left empty or under-used. The result was a mix of problems.
💼 Economic problems
Valuable land so close to a station and city centre was being wasted. There were few jobs on the empty sites, and the area was not attracting investment.
🏡 Housing pressure
Bristol is a growing city and needs more homes. Using old land inside the city helps to meet this need without spreading the city outwards onto the countryside.
Put simply, a well-connected site close to the city centre was not doing a useful job. Regeneration was a way to put it to work.
The main features of the project
Regeneration turned derelict land near the station into new offices and spaces
Temple Quarter is a long-term plan that will take many years. Parts of it are already built, and more is still to come. The main features are:
- An Enterprise Zone. Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone was launched in April 2012. Its aim is to attract businesses, especially creative, digital and high-tech companies.
- Spaces for new businesses. Workspaces such as Engine Shed, Temple Studios and Paintworks give small and growing businesses a place to start up.
- A university campus. The University of Bristol is building the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus on the site of a former Royal Mail sorting office, next to the station. It is designed to bring students, staff and research businesses to the area.
- New homes. The plan aims for up to 10,000 homes.
- New jobs. The plan aims for around 22,000 jobs.
- Public and green space. The project includes new public spaces, so that the area is pleasant to spend time in.
This is a mixed-use development. People will be able to live, work and study in the same place, close to a major station.
Who benefits?
Local people
New jobs, new homes and better public spaces.
Businesses
Workspace in a location with excellent transport links.
The city
Empty land is put to use, which reduces pressure to build on the edge of the city.
Common mistakes
Students often describe Bristol in general rather than Temple Quarter. Always name the area, and give a specific feature. Another mistake is to list only the benefits. The question asks for the reasons the area needed regeneration, so start with the problems before the project.
Exam-style question
Using a named example of an urban regeneration project, explain why the area needed regeneration and describe the main features of the project. [4 marks]
Model answer
Temple Quarter in Bristol needed regeneration because much of the land around Temple Meads station was derelict and under-used after old industries had closed (1). This wasted valuable land close to the city centre and provided few jobs (1). The main features include an Enterprise Zone to attract creative and digital businesses (1), and a new University of Bristol campus on the site of a former sorting office, as well as new homes and public space (1).
Exam tip
Four marks means four separate points. Write one clear reason or feature in each sentence, and name Temple Quarter so that the examiner can see you know the place.