FAQs

What does the development comprise?
The £500 million development comprises:


* Total retail and leisure area, including restaurants and cafes of 1 million sq ft (92,900 m)

* A four-storey, 170,000 sq ft (15,800 m) flagship department store, to be occupied by House of Fraser

* 37,000 sq ft (3,450 m) store, in Quakers Friars, to be occupied by Harvey Nichols

* A 100,000 sq ft (9290 m) Cinema de Lux with 3,000 seats in a 13 screen state-of-the-art auditoria

* 15 major stores and more than 120 new shops, 20 of which will be restaurants and cafes

* over 2,600 car park spaces

* new cycle routes, bus and coach stops

* new dedicated public spaces, including; an open square around the refurbished Quakers Friary buildings, featuring shops, restaurants and residential apartments and a new covered civic space in front of the proposed department store

* over 250 residential units, including 24 affordable homes in the heart of the city

* more than 161,500 sq ft (15,000 m) of office space

* 120 hotel bedrooms, in a building of more than 60,000 sq ft (5574 m)

* 280 student bed spaces, a development of 103,000 sq ft (9570m)

How big is the development?
The development area measures 36 acres (14 hectares).
When will the development open?
The development in scheduled to open in the autumn of 2008.
Who is developing the scheme?
The Bristol Alliance is a 50:50 joint venture between Land Securities Group PLC and Hammerson plc.
How many jobs will be created?
In excess of 4,000 jobs will be created through construction and retail / leisure.
What is the name of the new development?
Cabot Circus.

The Bristol Alliance chose the name 'Cabot' to form the basis of the new identity for the development. The decision followed a month of consultation during which the people of Bristol were invited to comment on a shortlist of three potential names – 'Cabot', 'Great West' and 'All Saints' – via our website, hotline, public information centre, workshops and media debates. The feedback from this process demonstrated majority support for Cabot. The next step for the Bristol Alliance was to select an appropriate suffix to combine with Cabot in order to create a new and exciting name for the development. The end result was a decision by the Alliance to take forward ‘Cabot Circus’ as the new name for the Bristol City Centre Expansion project. The full name was launched in February 2007.
Will the new retail area be covered?
The shopping area will feature a unique shell shaped roof, which will cover the central area and much of the scheme’s three new streets. The first of its kind in Europe, the roof will provide protection from the elements without losing the open air ‘city centre experience’ – one of the nine key priorities identified by the consultation process. Chapman Taylor are working closely with famous artist Nayan Kulkarni. This exciting collaboration has resulted in a remarkable design for the glass roof which will hover over the central area of the development.
What will be the impact of the development on existing Broadmead?
Great care is being given to integrate the new development with existing Broadmead.

The acceptance of the BID (Business Improvement District) by Broadmead retailers earlier this year will see a significant investment in the existing retail area, including new signage, lighting, street furniture and paving.

The adjoining Mall Galleries, bought by the Mall Corporation a year ago, also has major plans to upgrade both the interior and exterior of the centre.

Some major stores are already planning refurbishments.
Who designed the new scheme?

Four architectural practices have been appointed by the Bristol Alliance to develop the design concept and introduce a mix of architectural styles and variety to the scheme. They are:


Chapman Taylor: Masterplanning architects – responsible for significant elements of the leisure and retail.


Alec French: Leading Bristol-based firm responsible for the area around Quakers Friars including the refurbishment of the Friary itself.


Stanton Williams: Award-winning firm, responsible for designing the House of Fraser anchor store.


Wilkinson Eyre: Award-winning firm, responsible for designing the new car park and link bridge, together with the affordable housing in River Street.
Will art play an important role in the scheme?
Public art will play a key role in the development, which presents a range of opportunities for artists. Four main aims have been identified for the Bristol Alliance public art strategy:


* To create work of national and international significance that is of a high quality, innovative and challenging.

* To create artistic elements unique to Broadmead which contribute to the identity of the development.

* To create opportunities for a wide range of artists to work in a variety of ways across the lifetime of the development.

* To create meaningful links with existing communities in and around Broadmead.


Local artist Ralph Hoyte has been commissioned by the Bristol Alliance to produce a series of five text-based pieces – all of which reflect Cabot's urge to discover 'the new'. The artwork is now being temporarily exhibited on the Bristol Alliance hoardings around the expansion site. He also has a text- based piece displayed on the red hoardings surrounding Quakers Friars.

We have an artist in residence, Neville Gabie whose role is a unique one which invites him to explore, observe and comment on the development process through construction to completion. He has carried out extensive filming and documentation work, and been exploring a range of issues such as the global mix of personnel in the teams and the journey of materials too and from the site.


More information on the artists and specific projects can be found on our website.