Downing has submitted a planning application to redevelop the NCP multi-storey car park and ground-floor commercial units on Nelson Street, marking a key step in the ongoing regeneration of Bristol’s Broadmead area.
Our proposal includes a 12-storey Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) development delivering 331 bedrooms across a mix of studios, cluster flats and accessible rooms. The scheme also introduces active ground-floor uses and significant public realm improvements to create a more vibrant, welcoming environment for residents and the wider community.
Designed to help address Bristol’s growing need for high-quality student accommodation, the project also supports the Council’s ambition for a more sustainable, better-connected city centre.
Situated in the heart of the city between Lewins Mead, St James Barton, and the adjoining Old City, the development is well connected to Bristol’s public transport network, just a five-minute walk from Bristol Bus Station and 20 minutes from Temple Meads Station. In support of the Council’s long-term aim to reduce car dependency, the scheme will be entirely car-free and designed to encourage walking, cycling, and public transport use.
The project also aligns with planned Council-led highways improvements, including upgrades to the Fairfax Street bus corridor and a segregated cycleway along All Saints Street, helping to strengthen local connections and create a safer, more attractive environment for active travel.
