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What to look out for in Bristol in 2022
As we set our own resolutions, we consider what goals the city has for the year ahead.
The start of a new year marks a time of ambition for many of us – following a year of postponements and delayed investment; 2022 is set to be a busy year for Bristol.
A number of important developments are expected to commence, including the long-awaited 17,000-capacity YTL arena on the former Filton Airfield’s Brabazon hangar and the Welsh Beck opening of BoxHall (from the award-winning operators BoxPark), which will host local and independent restaurants, events and gaming experiences. This year also marks the end (or a new start) for the historic Bristol Zoo, with plans for a flagship zoo due to open in 2024 at its Wild Place Project site in north Bristol and the development of Bristol Zoo Gardens, a new homes and exhibition space at the famous Clifton site.
Beyond these specific developments, there are some big moves in the city set for this year:
A referendum on the role of the Bristol mayor
The close of 2021 saw Bristol city councillors decide to hold a referendum on whether the role of an elected Mayor is retained or scrapped in favour of a committee system. With councillors voting 41 in favour and 21 against, the decision now lies with the people of Bristol, with the vote scheduled for May.
What does this really mean?
Those promoting the motion talk of the need for more direct accountability, democracy and scrutiny in the city’s leadership. Mayor Marvin Rees had already confirmed plans to step down at the end of his second term and he doesn’t think this vote is about him. Yet, without any future mayoral candidates, it’s far too early in the process for anyone to put their hat in the ring, and as Marvin has been Mayor for the last 6 years (only following George Ferguson as Bristol’s first Mayor), it’s hard to believe there’s not some politics involved. It’s also important to note that these campaigns are not uncommon in places which have a directly elected mayor; the London Borough of Newham had a referendum in May 2021 where they chose to keep the role, or even where they don’t exist; the London Borough of Croydon recently voted in a referendum to have a mayor, with the view from campaigners that the current leader and cabinet system does not work.
What will the alternative be?
If Bristol chooses to remove the role of an elected mayor, it would be replaced by a committee system. This would mean that decisions would be made by Bristol’s cross party committees – with each party’s share of seats determining their influence over council decisions. This is the traditional local government system that was considered a barrier to progress by the Labour government at the end of the 1990s, which resulted in almost all councils moving to a new model, although Bristol would not be the first to return to the old ways.
What will the outcome be?
It’s safe to say the referendum has not been high on the public agenda – with Christmas, changing COVID guidance and the trial of the ‘Colston 4’ dominating both the media headlines and the headspace of communities across the city. Whilst the mayoral candidates who promised to remove the role of mayor received under 30% of the vote in the 2021 election (with a turnout of just over 40%), it’s difficult to truly understand local perceptions and likely turnout until much closer to referendum day. What we do know is the turnout for the same decision in 2012 was just 24% (with 53% voting in favour of a directly elected mayor) and the average turnout for the three mayoral elections held to date is 38%. It’s unlikely that we’ll see interest levels reach new heights for the referendum in May. This means only very small numbers of people are likely to determine the future governance model of the South West’s major city.
Steps forward for clean air in the city centre
Is 2022 the year that the city will finally get its long-promised Clean Air Zone? This will see more polluting vehicles be charged to enter a small zone in the city centre. Whilst the initiative has seen setbacks in its delivery over the past year or so, Mayor Marvin Rees has confirmed that it will be introduced in the summer of this year to ensure Bristol meets the Government’s legal limits for air pollution by 2023.
Where is the Clean Air Zone? The area covers parts of Southville, Redcliffe, Spike Island, OId Market and the Portway.
Who will be charged? Whilst over 71% of vehicles in the city are already compliant, more polluting private cars, taxis, vans (charged £9) along with industrial vehicles, buses and coaches (charged £100) will incur a cost to travel into the Clean Air Zone.
Will there be any support for businesses and individuals? Bristol City Council is using £42 million of government funding to provide support to switch to cleaner ways of travelling, including for those on low incomes investment into public transport and electric bike loans.
A new vision for the West of England Spatial Development Strategy
Following the breakdown of the unsuccessful Joint Spatial Plan (JSP) in 2020, which was due to set out the long-term housing and infrastructure needs for Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has signposted 2022 as the year for progress to be made on a new West of England Spatial Development Strategy (SDS).
Who will the SDS be for? The SDS will set the general locations for growth to meet regional needs for jobs and housing across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire only; following the failure of the JSP, North Somerset decided to progress its own Local Plan.
What will happen this year? Following initial surveys and engagement undertaken over the last year, 2022 marks the start of the statutory consultation period on the plan before examination in 2023.
Read more about the West of England Spatial Development Strategy here.
Result of the Smart Cities Challenge
Promoted by the Bristol Housing Festival and Bristol One City, with the support of Bristol City Council, last year Bristol was chosen as one of four international cities to participate in the Nesta Climate Smart Cities Challenge. The innovation competition launched in 2021, and invited cities to identify a challenge and develop potential solutions to this challenge – seeking to promote the harnessing of technology to combat the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gases in cities. We are delighted to be involved in the competition as expert assessors on the Bristol based applications.
What challenge did Bristol submit? Bristol wants to work out how to deliver new housing to ensure it becomes a positive contributor to reducing greenhouse gases in the city. The focus for the city is to design a neighbourhood level project that showcases how cities can co-create ideas together with innovators.
What’s next for the challenge? The finalists will be announced at the Expo on 20 January. Following this, finalists will commence a co-creation period ahead of a demonstration planning phase between June and November.
For more information about our work in Bristol or to find out how we can support your project, please get in touch with Emily Bell or Andrea Kellegher.
10 January 2022