The Knowle West Alliance launched in Spring 2019. We are a growing partnership of residents, organisations and businesses working together for positive action in Knowle West; collaborating around changes big and small that make a difference to people’s lives. One part of our work is to support the community’s involvement in plans for development in the area.
On this page you will find information on: the Knowle West Pre Planning Protocol, Local Planning Groups, Development Proposals and the Knowle West Public Art Strategy.
Pre Planning Protocol
KWA members have co-created a Knowle West Pre Planning Protocol for Community Involvement and this has been agreed with Bristol City Council. This protocol sets out a process that aims to involve the community in having a voice in housing developments coming forward locally.
We are working to ensure community views are heard so that that the best developments are achieved.
For example, The Park used the Planning Protocol to inform how they included the community in plans for the new centre and worked closely with The Alliance to reach out and get people involved.
“Early engagement with neighbours and the wider public during the preparation brief through to conceptual and detailed design has assisted greatly.” AWW Architects.
“The look and feel of the design for our new community centre and the final landscaping for the site changed considerably as a result of feedback from local residents. For example, the buildings will be far more colourful than we first planned, our landscaping will retain all existing ecology and be enhanced with certain features requested by our neighbours, including a wild flower garden. More space has been planned for outdoor seating areas, children’s play areas and space between our new buildings and our near neighbours. We were also encouraged by feedback from local people as we embarked upon a large and sometimes overwhelming development project” Sam Carrier, The Park
Planning in Knowle West
Knowle West Alliance, Knowle West Future Coordination Group, Filwood Broadway Working Group and Knowle West Regeneration Residents Planning Group are working together to achieve the best outcomes for the community; this takes into consideration the Regeneration Framework of 2012 and uses tools such as the Pre-Planning Protocol to build voice and influence.
The Knowle West Future Coordination Group is a coordination meeting that is held bi-monthly and provides a space for local residents, organisations, groups and Councillors who are interested in the planning process (and implications) around large developments in the area. This is a public group and all are welcome. More information about the local groups that attend, and regeneration in general can be found HERE
The Knowle West Regeneration Residents Planning Group (KWRRPG) holds regular meetings to look at the detail around proposed developments. They also provide training for people to help them understand things better and take part in the Regeneration. If you want to know more about that – please email: kwrrpg@gmail.com
Read more about Regeneration and local planning groups: https://www.knowlewest.co.uk/kwandf/
Guide 1 (by KWRRPG)
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL’S PLANNING APPLICATION WEBSITE – HANDOUT:
Local Development Proposals
HAVE YOUR SAY: KWA believe that residents should be kept informed about potential changes to the area, have access to clear information and ample opportunity to engage and influence plans.
STAYING UP TO DATE: Below is the quarterly update on all sites in the KW Regeneration area (information supplied by Bristol City Council, put together by KWA & The Knowledge Teams):
Filwood Broadway Public Realm
In 2019 Bristol Council began to develop housing development proposals on Filwood Broadway. Members of Knowle West Future and Knowle West Alliance who were interested in development across the Knowle West area realised there was a need for the local community to influence these proposals.
In 2020 the Filwood Broadway Working Group was set up. The group includes local residents, community groups, councillors, council officers and local businesses. Fortnightly meetings began in January 2021. A stall at the Community Market every month raised awareness and gathered opinions and supporters.
In 2021 the Filwood Broadway Working Group successfully bid for support from the national regeneration charity, the Create Streets Foundation and began a series of workshops and public engagements to consider the best and most prosperous future for Filwood Broadway. This report, prepared by the Create Streets Foundation, summarises the public engagement outcomes and subsequent design proposals:
Filwood Levelling Up Fund In January 2023, Filwood was awarded £14.5m of funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund. Along with £1.72m of Bristol City Council funding, this will enable projects identified in the Filwood Broadway Framework to be developed Bristol City Council Knowle West Regeneration.
How the money will be spent: The Knowledge: Filwood Broadway Investment . Filwood Broadway.com
Knowle West Public Arts Strategy
Knowle West is unique as being the only neighbourhood in Bristol to have its own Public Art Strategy, ‘The Manual’ was written in 2011, and you can take a look here: The Manual – a public art strategy for Knowle West
What is Public Art? Public art doesn’t need to mean large sculptures that appear from nowhere and can take many forms – including street furniture, parades, temporary structures, pop-up events and food projects. The manual also clearly explains that whilst there are many definitions of Public Art the KW version always:
Includes the community right from the start
Involves artists who are brilliant at working with communities
Results in work that is rooted in place and about things relevant to the community.
The vision is set out in manual and begins with 4 principles:
- Create high quality artworks for Knowle West that will provide a physical, cultural and social legacy
- Use the character and resources of Knowle West within commissions
- Embrace the local and international
- Contribute to an environmentally and socially sustainable Knowle West.
Knowle West Alliance 