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Enabling works get underway to prepare for the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus

Inside the former Royal Mail sorting office

Press release issued: 15 February 2018

Enabling works have now started to prepare for the demolition of the former Royal Mail sorting office on Cattle Market Road, next to Temple Meads station to make way for the new University of Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus.

This initial phase of work involves stripping out the sorting office building and making it safe, removing the ramp on the eastern side of the site and may also include removal of the derelict Cattle Market Tavern which has been out of use for more than 17 years and is no longer structurally sound.

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: "I'm pleased that we are making progress towards demolition of this eyesore. The derelict sorting office has been a blight on the landscape for many years, creating a poor impression of the city for people arriving by train.

"The start of enabling works is an important milestone towards the creation of a new enterprise campus – a new home of digital innovation and research for the University of Bristol.

"The whole city will benefit from this development. It will transform the appearance of the area and serve as a catalyst for the ongoing regeneration of the Temple Quarter."

Professor Guy Orpen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol, said: "I welcome the start of work to clear the derelict former sorting office site to make way for our exciting new Enterprise Campus.

"Over the next few years we will be working with our partners and neighbours to turn this inaccessible derelict site into a welcoming new campus that will benefit the whole city. It will offer spaces for learning, research, collaboration, leisure and living, bringing life to a neglected part of the city centre and driving the further development of digital innovation in the city region."

It is anticipated that a staged demolition of the sorting office building itself will start in early summer, depending on progress with enabling works.

A series of photographs documenting some of the last views inside this well-known Bristol building are available to view on Bristol City Council's Flickr page.

An outline planning application for the new campus was submitted to Bristol City Council in November and covers the scale of the buildings, as well as access to the site. 

Over the coming months a design team will further develop the designs for the campus that will include buildings for learning and collaboration, accessible public spaces and cafés, new walking and cycle routes and spaces for businesses, living and leisure.

There will be further opportunities to engage and comment on the developing plans later in the year. Please see the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus webpage for further information.

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