Bristol City Council has unanimously approved our redevelopment plans for Canningford House in the heart of Redcliffe Conservation Area.
The project for Boultbee Brooks Real Estate will transform a pivotal site on Victoria Street into a contemporary office space accommodating 432 people, while reopening a historic pedestrian route closed off since World War II.
Reconnecting the city’s past
The central feature of the design is the reinstatement of ‘Long Row’, a former connection in the city’s urban fabric between Victoria Street and Temple Street. This strategic move restores a piece of Bristol’s history, while inviting people into a revitalised public courtyard that will run alongside the much-loved, Grade-II listed Cornubia pub.
We worked closely with the pub’s owners and local community groups to ensure the design respects this heritage asset, maintains its charm, and protects the pub’s patrons. An updated outdoor terrace for the pub will include new planting and fencing to preserve its intimate garden atmosphere, while improving accessibility and seating capacity.
The development team spent a great deal of time trying to ensure the scheme works for us as publicans, and also for our loyal and wonderful regular customers. They didn’t shy away from spending time with our locals to hear their concerns, followed through on their commitments, and came back to explain the outcomes. – Samantha Hall, Cornubia pub
Balancing heritage with modernity
Canningford House occupies a challenging footprint, but despite the tight constraints, the project balances the need for modern office space with positive improvements to the surrounding public realm.
Two solid forms frame a central glazed section, allowing natural light to flow into both the double-height atrium and office spaces, while opening up views towards the Cornubia. The stepped roof terraces provide outdoor amenity areas for occupants, with views that link the new development to the wider city. At the ground floor level, proposed spaces could be used by a range of occupiers, potentially including a café or shops to help enliven Victoria Street.
Canningford House offered us the opportunity to provide modern workplace facilities and create a new setting around the Cornubia that celebrates this unique piece of Bristol’s heritage. It was essential that we balanced the practical needs of the site with the sensitivities of its historic surroundings, ensuring both the new development and the pub continue to thrive together. – Juan López, Associate Architect, Stride Treglown
A commitment to sustainable urban living
Canningford House will link to Bristol’s district heat network and feature photovoltaic panels, while the use of high-recycled content materials supports our Net Zero Carbon ambitions. The landscape has been thoughtfully planned, with extensive planting to promote biodiversity and create a green, pedestrian-friendly space.
As a zero-parking development, Canningford House encourages sustainable modes of transport, with secure cycle facilities and pedestrian routes contributing positively to Bristol’s sustainability goals.
Transforming the future of Redcliffe
This redevelopment forms a key part of the ongoing revitalisation of the Redcliffe area. By combining modern office space with public amenities and restoring historic routes, Canningford House is poised to inject new energy into Bristol’s urban fabric.
Project team: Boultbee Brooks Real Estate (Development Manager), Stride Treglown (Architecture, Landscape Architecture), Savills (Planning Consultant), Constructive (Project Management), Hydrock (Structural Engineer), Currie & Brown (Cost Consultant), Hoare Lea (Air Quality), GIA Surveyors (Daylight), GE Consulting (Ecology, Arboriculture), Conversation PR (PR Consultant).
