Planning evidence

We use studies and assessments to make decisions about our planning policies.

This page contains evidence and topic papers which support the current local plan review.

If you’re unable to access any of the documents below, or need additional information, email blp@bristol.gov.uk.

Land use, development and planning policy research

Our monitoring and research page has information on Bristol City Council's annual Development Monitoring Report, Residential Development Survey and Business Development Survey.

Centres, shopping, and the evening economy

Design and conservation

You can find some documents that we use as evidence on the Conservation pages.

Central Area Context Study

This study from September 2013 has information on the historic development of Bristol and changes that have affected the central area of the city:

Economy and employment

The evidence base that informed the strategy for the provision of employment land and space in Bristol includes the following documents:

Flood risk

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)

The SFRA looks at how likely it is that different parts of Bristol will flood in the future.

SFRA Level 1 reports have an overview of the flood risk in Bristol:

SFRA Level 2 reports have more detail about areas in Bristol:

There are maps that go with the SFRA technical report:

pdf Land safeguarded from development that is required for current and future flood management (1.31 MB)

Avonmouth maps

Central area maps

Flood defence failure and flood risk maps

To obtain flood depth information from the Avonmouth Severnside SFRA flood model, for planning application and other purposes, use the Avonmouth Severnside SFRA Flood Depths web map.

Central Area Flood Risk Assessment

This is a study on tidal and river flood risks in Central Bristol that we made with the Environment Agency.

You can look at pdf a summary report of the Central Flood Risk Assessment (7.15 MB) . You should use this alongside the SFRA as this has the most up to date information for the centre of Bristol.

To get the information used in the study, email the Environment Agency at WessexEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP)

We'll use the SWMP to help us deal with flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

The pdf SWMP model summary (1.28 MB) has details of the flood modelling conducted.

If you need this information in an alternative format, email flood.data@bristol.gov.uk

There's information on parts of Bristol that have the highest risk of surface water flooding contained in the Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment report and accompanying surface water flood risk maps found above.

Housing

We carry out assessments of housing need and of sites in Bristol that might be suitable for different types of housing:

If you need an assessment in a different format, email blp@bristol.gov.uk

Infrastructure

The local plan publication version is accompanied by an pdf infrastructure delivery plan draft (897 KB) which is updated when further information becomes available.

The Avonmouth infrastructure study looks at flood risk, ecology and transport in the Avonmouth and Severnside area:

Natural environment

The pdf Parks and Green Space Strategy (2.87 MB) has information on how green space in the city should be used.

Severnside and Avonmouth Wetland Habitat Project

This project looked at what areas of land would be suitable as a habitat for wetland birds:

Open Space

pdf Local Green Space and Reserved Open Green Space: Topic Paper (2.88 MB) .

Sustainable energy and design

Transport

pdf Interim Transport Evidence Information Note (Nov 2023) (155 KB) .

You can also find documents that we use as evidence on the WECA transport webpage and the our transport plans and projects page.

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