Bristol Temple Quarter

(ongoing since 2024)

CLIENT CONTEXT

The Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership (BTQ LLP) is a regeneration project aimed at mitigating Britain’s housing crisis through the development of mixed-use neighbourhoods. One of the UK’s most ambitious city-centre transformations, BTQ has existed in some form for nearly 15 years, but has gained genuine momentum since a new partnership – comprising Bristol City Council, Homes England and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority – took over in 2023.

Start Advisory was appointed by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) on behalf of BTQ LLP in July 2024. This appointment was quicker and easier for BTQ because we were already registered with Constellia, an approved provider to WECA.

PROCESS

Start Advisory is supporting several workstreams on the BTQ project:

  • We’re supporting BTQ LLP to ensure that all sites are acquired, available, and ready for development. This includes negotiating relocations, defining access and rights of way, and addressing historic reservations that might otherwise constrain progress.

  • We’re developing a meanwhile and enlivenment strategy for secured land – balancing practical interim uses (such as contractor compounds, training centres and parking) with community-facing activities, events, and pop-ups – to bring BTQ’s long-term vision to life.

  • We’re also supporting masterplanning for the future phases to the south-east of Bristol Temple Meads station, ensuring commercial viability, land assembly and design thinking are aligned.

  • And we provide strategic input into partner procurement, drawing on experience as client, adviser and bidder to anticipate negotiation dynamics and help BTQ structure competitive and transparent processes.

RESULTS

Start Advisory’s work has strengthened alignment across public- and private-sector partners, supporting a shared ambition for placemaking and enlivenment throughout the BTQ area.

Although negotiations with Network Rail are ongoing, we’ve been negotiating successfully with them on behalf of multiple clients over the past 10 years. We know how to reconcile apparently conflicting interests, securing a reasonable commercial outcome for our clients while protecting Network Rail’s interests.

We also know how to drive through the required regulatory approvals for Network Rail to formally dispose of land and allow development close to an operational railway. These processes can be risky and time consuming; our insight helps reduce these risks and deliver effective decisions quicker.

“Start Advisory’s combination of commercial insight and hands-on delivery has been invaluable. Their experience with complex public-sector negotiations and their ability to unite stakeholders behind shared objectives have significantly smoothed progress.”

— Representative, West of England Combined Authority / BTQ LLP