Bristol City Council has unanimously approved our Clarence Road development for Dandara Living, which will deliver 435 much-needed homes on a prominent site opposite Temple Meads station.
Designed to be more than just a place to live, Clarence Road will blend quality rental housing with communal spaces for residents to relax, socialise, work, and exercise, along with a new public courtyard.
Building community and connection
The development features fully furnished one, two, and three-bedroom apartments available for long-term rent, with access to a host of amenities, including a gym, resident lounge, co-working areas, six unique rooftop spaces, and a landscaped courtyard at ground level. The Social Rent model means families can grow and evolve within the community as their needs change over time.
To support local businesses and social enterprises, the ground-floor spaces propose a mix of community and commercial uses. These will face Temple Gate and open directly onto the courtyard, which serves as a key pedestrian route between Clarence Road and Chatterton Square, offering a peaceful retreat from the surrounding urban environment.
A nod to Bristol’s past
Made up of a cluster of taller buildings arranged around the terraced courtyard, the design draws inspiration from Bristol’s architectural heritage. Byzantine elements such as arches, detailed brickwork, metal fretwork, and elegant cornicing add a contemporary touch while honouring the city’s character, ensuring Clarence Road fits seamlessly into its surroundings while still making a distinctive mark.
As a Bristol resident, I’m immensely proud to have taken this landmark scheme through planning. The city desperately needs new homes and our ambition is to create a new community with a fantastic public realm and great amenities for residents. We worked hard to design buildings that are contemporary, but appropriate to their context and make a lasting contribution to the area.
Jacqui Pollard, Head of Residential
For people and pollinators
The design’s fabric-first strategy uses high recycled content materials to minimise carbon impact, aligning with our target of BREEAM Excellent Communities and a 4 Star Home Quality Mark.
The buildings connect to the Bristol heat network, complemented by solar panels and water-saving fixtures, along with rooftop planting to create habitats for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Our proposal also includes significant public realm enhancements, with new pedestrian routes, widened pavements, and segregated cycle lanes. Substantial tree planting, landscaping, and a pocket park with natural play areas will transform the current hard urban space into a green, welcoming landscape for both people and wildlife. The result is an estimated biodiversity net gain of around 5,000 percent.
Shaping the future of Temple Quarter
With an emphasis on quality homes, thoughtfully designed public spaces, and strong community connections, Clarence Road aims to create a place where people and nature can thrive.
Clarence Road sits within the Bristol Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh Regeneration Programme and, as part of the 2,500 homes planned for this area, will play a key role in the city’s renewal.