Revised planning application submitted for Bristol’s Wapping Wharf North

The new proposal follows a two-year consultation with Wapping Wharf traders, local residents, stakeholders, advisory bodies and the wider public. 

Last year it was reported that the Cargo shipping container development would be removed and replaced with a 12-storey building.​​ 

Umberslade says that, if approved, the plans for Wapping Wharf North will secure the future of the Cargo independent businesses and create a go-to leisure destination on the city docks. 

Key changes include removal of a double-height restaurant on the top of the building and the removal of other restaurant space on the building’s upper level to give it ‘a more slender appearance’ and the addition of an open-air publicly-accessible rooftop shipping container restaurant and viewing terrace on the sixth floor, offering expansive views across the harbourside. 

Overall, the development at Wapping Wharf North will create a ‘permanent and much-improved’ new home for the businesses in Cargo with small independent businesses selling groceries and produce in a continental-style covered market called Cargo Hall, surrounded with takeaways and casual dining businesses with outdoor seating. Upper floors will have dine-in restaurants with cascading green outdoor terraces offering views across the harbour.

There will also be 245 new ‘sustainable high-quality homes’ and 5,000sqm of flexible workspaces. 

Umberslade says that 'practically all' existing Cargo independent businesses have been closely involved with the development of the latest plans and the design team have created space in the new building to meet the individual needs of each trader.

“We’ve sat down with practically all the traders at Cargo, who we all have strong relationships with, to understand how they want to develop their businesses within the new building to make sure it really meets their individual needs,” says Stuart Hatton, managing director of Umberslade, owners and developers of Wapping Wharf. 

“We have agreed with most of them exactly where they would be located and although they understand that major development like this takes time, they’re very excited about the prospect of moving into a permanent home where they can flourish.”

Tessa Lidstone, co-owner of Box-E restaurant added: “Wapping Wharf is more than just a physical building, it’s the community here. The shipping containers were a surprise hit and an important stepping-stone for many of us starting businesses for the first time but we knew they were only ever a meanwhile use while the site got developed.”

“There have been a lot of opportunities for our views to be incorporated into the new plans. Umberslade and the design team have taken the essence of who we are and put it into a new building. There’s still that strong connection between the businesses, the lovely walkways to encourage people to wander, the greenery, the pedestrianisation and the views south towards Southville and over the docks, which makes Wapping Wharf what it is.”

Josh Eggleton, owner of Root and Salt & Malt added: “The shipping containers made it really easy to start a new business but it’s what’s inside them that’s important. With the revised plans, the look and feel of the shipping containers will be instilled into the new building. The new development will allow us to grow, to invest in our businesses and our staff. I know how important it is to Stuart and Esme that all the businesses in Cargo can come with them on this journey and that’s evident in how committed they are to getting this right for us.”