Castle Park

Bristol City Council has appointed LDA Design to lead the transformation of Castle Park, the city centre’s largest green open space. This ambitious project brings together a predominantly local team of specialist SMEs, each acting as ‘place champions’ to deliver the Council’s vision for this historic 11-hectare site.

Castle Park holds profound significance for Bristol. The site encompasses Bristol Castle, once Europe’s largest Norman keep, and the haunting ruins of St Peter’s Church – a bombed memorial to those lost in the Blitz. Yet this is no static heritage site. The park serves as a vital south-facing refuge along the waterfront, used daily by residents and workers seeking respite within the dense urban fabric.

The project responds to the evolving pressures of city centre intensification. As Broadmead and Temple Quarter undergo major redevelopment, Castle Park’s role becomes increasingly critical. It must knit together the Old City, Floating Harbour, and Old Market whilst providing high-quality, accessible green space for a growing population. The challenge lies in celebrating this layered history whilst creating a more inclusive, multi-functional space with enhanced biodiversity, better connectivity, and welcoming gateways.

LDA Design has assembled a collaborative team of local specialists to address these complex demands. This partnership approach – bringing together ecology, heritage, landscape, engineering, and community specialists – reflects the project’s ambition to deliver a transformed Castle Park that serves Bristol’s everyday life whilst honouring its extraordinary past.