- Bristol City Council planning committee moves to approve detailed planning submission
- One of Bristol’s iconic buildings, the George and Railway pub, to be transformed into a modern day trading station
- Engine Shed 2 will create 150% increased capacity on the current Engine Shed
Yesterday, Wednesday 8th November 2017, Bristol City Council’s planning committee unanimously declined to take the planning officer’s recommendation and push forward the plans from developer, Skanska, for Bristol’s derelict George and Railway pub to become Engine Shed 2. The pub has remained unoccupied since the 1980s and the Engine Shed team now look forward to working with partners to make sure that this building will become part of Engine Shed’s inclusive economic growth development.Since it’s launch in December 2013, Engine Shed has, through its hosted incubators created over 700 jobs and delivered more than £8m GVA to the Bristol and Bath economic region. The organisation, hosts business incubation (SETsquared – the world’s number one business incubator, Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator), apprenticeship provision (Boomsatsuma), city development projects (BIO), networks and collaborations (GW4, TechSpark, BusinessWest) and have previously hosted the LEP, WebStart, JustEat, SomoGlobal, GamesBoosters, WECA, Social Enterprise Works, School for Social Entrepreneurs and others – supporting them in their journey.
Engine Shed 2 will accelerate and increase development of long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Bristol and the surrounding economic area. At the same time, it will bring new projects into the community and generate increased operating surplus to fund its outreach projects. The new space will also provide much needed extra accommodation for SETsquared Bristol and other sector hubs reusing an established city building without pressing on the need for new build.
Commenting on this decision, Engine Shed Director, Nick Sturge said:
“‘I am thrilled that the Planning Committee has seen the opportunity that Engine Shed 2 presents in a second iconic Bristol heritage site. Following on from the success of Engine Shed, and our proven custodianship of a listed building, we are now able to build on our inclusive economic growth plan that serves communities in Bristol and Bath. These are indeed exciting times.’
Engine Shed is a collaboration between Bristol City Council, the University of Bristol and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership at the heart of Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. As well as housing a number of tenants, Engine Shed is a popular meeting and event venue for the region’s businesses and organisations. Engine Shed also delivers social returns with its unique Diverse Work Force for the Future project alongside several others.
You can keep up-to-date on the progress of Engine Shed 2 and our project work by visiting www.engine-shed.co.uk