SCEPTRE winner - Cabot Circus

Published: 27 August, 2009

Cabot Circus

Shopping Centre Development Team of the Year

In 2008, the Bristol Alliance delivered one of the largest urban regeneration programmes ever achieved by a single development. With 1m sq ft of shopping and leisure, Cabot Circus has created a consumer gateway into one of Britain’s fastest-growing cities.

The massive development includes 140 new shops, 15 major flagship stores and 20 new restaurants. It has transformed Bristol’s accommodation with 200 apartments and 24 affordable housing units – particularly crucial in the current economic climate.

A sustainable approach to the development of Cabot Circus has transformed the site into a public realm, with an open square and spectacular covered spaces. A rainwater harvesting system is now in place, and 70 per cent of waste was recycled during construction.

Cabot Circus has been hugely beneficial to the surrounding population. New cycles routes and three pedestrian streets have added vast ecological value, while the use of UK-sourced construction material provided support for local businesses.

The development has won acclaim by taking into consideration all aspects of urban living. Enticing people and business into the area will help raise income levels, and the impact on traffic flow has been managed by improving public transport links and implementing a ‘Green Travel Plan’. It is little wonder the scheme was the first retail project of its kind to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating under BREEAM.