Working with the design team lead by ahmm, Nicholas Pearson Associates undertook Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment (TVIA) and prepared Verified View Montages (VVM) for the redevelopment of The Galleries site in central Bristol. The planning committee unanimously approved proposals for the comprehensive redevelopment of the existing shopping centre which will become a high-quality mixed-use development in the heart of Bristol.

The Site, located within central Bristol, is in a sensitive position in the city. The adjacent Castle Park is an important open space and the ruined castle, local Listed buildings and the Conservation Area are valued heritage assets within this part of the city.

Our work with the design team over several years, assessed key visual sensitivities related to views from Castle Park and the Floating Harbour together with the identifying potential visual impacts of taller elements of the proposed development on wider skyline views across the city.

The proposed development will regenerate this part of the city centre, adding to the skyline and creating a mix of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, and a hotel, offices, new  homes and student accommodation. The new public realm will create a safe and welcoming pedestrian route connecting Bristol Bus & Coach Station and the Broadmead shopping area and linking with Castle Park. The new streets and spaces will help to improve circulation to and through this part of the city.

Through a collaborative and iterative process, working within the design team, we undertook initial preliminary TVIA and prepared initial VVM for use in pre-application consultation with Bristol City Council. Our Landscape Architects and Visualisers worked closely with the architect, planning consultant and heritage consultant to scope the required impact assessment and visualisation work. This collaboration identified key issues for consideration in the development of the design. We prepared a TVIA as a technical chapter of the Environmental Statement,  including advising on recommendations for means of embedding design mitigation into the scheme.

The preparation of VVM, undertaken in accordance with best practice, were used in both the TVIA and the separate heritage assessment. The verified visualisations proved to be an important part of the planning consultation process and enabled stakeholders to understand the nature and scale changes the project would bring to this area of the city.

The application success comes with the planning committee voting unanimously to approve the application in January 2025.

To speak to one of our team about how TVIA and VVM could help your planning application succeed, please contact us.