Detailed plans for a new transport hub at Bristol Temple Meads station, named the “Southern Gateway,” have been revealed by the Bristol Temple Quarter project team. The hub will feature a new pedestrian access to the station, a dedicated cycle hub, and a multi-storey car park.
This development is part of the broader Bristol Temple Quarter (BTQ) programme, which aims to deliver 10,000 new homes, thousands of jobs, new infrastructure, and public spaces across 135 hectares of central Bristol.
The Southern Gateway proposals include:
- A new 350-space car park, relocating rail passenger and staff parking, with accessible spaces, EV charging, and short-stay drop-off/pick-up.
- A secure cycle hub for over 700 bikes, including cargo and accessible cycles.
- A new pedestrian access to Temple Meads station over the River Avon, significantly improving access from the south of the city.
- New bus stops and space for future mass transit.
The Southern Gateway is a key milestone for the BTQ project, enabling the development of new homes and commercial space. Currently, the station area is dominated by car parking. Relocating this parking to the Southern Gateway will free up land north of the station – at the Friary, Station Approach, and the Grade I listed Midland Shed – for new development, public spaces, and travel routes as part of the BTQ “Northern Gateway.”
The Southern Gateway will connect with walking and cycling routes planned or underway in Bedminster, Mead Street, and Whitehouse Street, improving sustainable access to the station, particularly from the south. The BTQ team is also collaborating with Bristol City Council and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to improve the A4/Bath Road walking and cycling route.
The project is funded by a £95 million government grant awarded to Temple Quarter in 2022 and will be the first development delivered by the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQLLP), established in 2024 by Bristol City Council, Homes England, and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The BTQLLP plans to submit a planning application for the Southern Gateway in April.
Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, said:
“This is an important step along the way for Temple Quarter and for the West of England. It’s also another boost to our regional travel ambitions, utilising government funding secured by my Mayoral Combined Authority, and will help create new jobs and economic growth.
“Plans for the new Southern Gateway to Brunel’s historic station sit alongside work already underway for a new Eastern Entrance to Temple Meads itself. New spaces for bikes, electric vehicle charging, and space for further transport connections will completely change commuters’ experience of our region’s busiest station.”
Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “The Southern Gateway is crucial to unlocking the potential of Temple Quarter and the land around the station. By creating a modern, high-quality transport hub we are improving travel to and from the station, all while freeing up space for the developments and public spaces the city needs. It’s exciting to see the Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership up and running, driving the programme forward on behalf of the partners.”
Neil Hook, Director South and London, Homes England, said: “The Southern Gateway is a further sign of the growing momentum behind the Temple Quarter project. While it might seem a small step on paper, in reality this is the vital first move to begin unlocking sustainable new homes and jobs on a huge scale in the centre of Bristol.”
Francis McGarry, Investment Director, Network Rail, said: “This is another step in the transformation of Bristol Temple Meads station into a world-class transport hub. The new Southern Gateway will improve the passenger experience dramatically, both for those coming to the station to travel, and for those coming to the West of England who will finally have the welcome to Bristol that the city deserves.”
Proposals for a new southern entrance and car park were included in the Temple Quarter Development Framework, endorsed by the council in May 2023. A consultation found that over a third of respondents would use the Southern Gateway entrance, primarily for convenience.
A new Eastern Entrance, opening into the University of Bristol Enterprise Campus, is due in Autumn 2026. In total, Bristol Temple Meads will benefit from four new or improved entrances.
