Former Galleries, Bristol

Deeley Freed and LaSalle Investment Management needed to secure planning approval for a major mixed-use scheme at The Galleries in Bristol’s Broadmead shopping quarter. Nicholas Pearson Associates was commissioned to provide a professional Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment and verified views to help the planning authority and stakeholders understand the scheme’s effects on the historic city centre landscape.

Understanding the Visual Impact

What made this particularly challenging was assessing how a substantial new development would sit within Bristol’s historic setting, just to the north of Castle Park. The scheme proposed 450 new homes, office space for 3,450 workers, a 250-room hotel, student bedrooms, and extensive ground-floor retail and hospitality uses. Historic England and Bristol City Council needed clear, professional evidence about how the development would affect key views and townscape character across the city centre. Our role was to provide that technical foundation to inform the planning process.

Our Approach

We undertook a detailed townscape analysis to identify viewpoints that mattered most. This meant studying sightlines from significant heritage locations, busy pedestrian routes, and key civic spaces across Bristol. We mapped existing landscape character and understood how the city centre functions visually. Working closely with AHMM (the architects) and Savills (planning consultant), we followed industry guidance and best practice standards. This collaborative approach meant we could translate architectural designs into accurate verified visualisations that showed exactly what people would see from the ground.

Townscape Assessment and Visualisations Delivered

We produced verified visual montages from multiple viewpoints across Bristol’s city centre. These images showed the proposed scheme in context, demonstrating how new buildings would relate to existing heritage assets and the surrounding urban form. Our assessment examined townscape effects in detail how materials, building heights, and public realm improvements would shape the character of the Broadmead area. We identified both potential impacts and genuine benefits, such as the creation of 1.5 acres of public open space and enhanced connections through the city centre. The visualisations became a shared language that helped architects, planners, and councillors evaluate the scheme’s fit within the historic landscape.

Supporting the Planning Process

The townscape assessment and visualisations formed a key part of the Environmental Statement submitted with the planning application. By presenting clear evidence about visual effects, we helped Historic England, Bristol City Council and the planning committee make informed decisions.. Our professional assessment acknowledged key considerations of the development as well as the potential visual and townscape benefits that could arise from appropriate design mitigation and detailing that respect the city centre’s distinctive character.

Delivering Real Benefits for Bristol

The planning application was submitted in May 2024 and was subsequently recommended for approval subject to conditions. The scheme now moves forward with confidence following an extensive analytical consultation process. Beyond the planning outcome, this development brings genuine value to Bristol new housing in the city centre, employment space, a vibrant hotel and hospitality offer, and significant new public open space including a community building and a venue to support grassroots music. The reinvigoration of this shopping quarter respecting the centrally located 18th Century Merchant Taylors Alms-houses on Merchant Street, within the Site, demonstrates how sensitive assessment and collaborative design can support sustainable city centre growth.

Moving Forward

Our experience and knowledge of Bristol’s landscape and planning context positions us well to support future design and assessments within Bristol and other townscape settings. We understand how historic character, contemporary vision and community needs can come together through iterative design and rigorous landscape assessment, with the assistance of accurate visual communication.

Please contact us to discuss how our landscape architecture team can help you with your next project.