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Environment

We are committed to playing our part in helping tackle the climate emergency. A key part of this is ensuring we build energy efficient homes, as well as helping to enhance the natural environment and improve biodiversity.

A combination of renewable energy and thinking carefully about the materials used for building will help minimise the carbon emissions produced by the homes at Baltic Wharf, both during construction and occupation.

The homes at Baltic Wharf will encourage sustainable lifestyles for residents and include a range of sustainable features that will help lower their carbon footprint:

  • Designed from a fabric first principle, incorporating high levels of thermal insulation
  • 64 Photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof to deliver 20% renewable energy for the benefit of all residents
  • Low carbon heating by means of either onsite Air Source Heating or a future proofed connection to the proposed Bristol district heating network
  • Electric vehicle charging points for cars
  • Energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the site
  • Smart energy meters will be installed in every home, empowering residents to monitor and manage their own energy usage
  • Indoor spaces have been designed with natural light and ventilation in mind, with floor-to-ceiling glazing and rooms with multiple windows
  • Design details including projecting eaves, balconies, and solar shading to keep residents cool in summer
  • Efficient water fittings and dual flush toilets to cut down water consumption
  • Permeable paving, soakaway crates and rainwater gardens to reduce the risk of downstream flooding
  • 37% carbon emission improvement on current building regulations
  • High speed broadband will also be available

Biodiversity

Climate change isn’t just affecting the human race – it’s impacting wildlife and habitats as well.

We believe it’s important we support biodiversity through new development

Therefore, through our application we are achieving a 33% increase in biodiversity habitat as a result of the scheme design. We do however have a loss of hedgerow overall which we are unable to mitigate onsite.

  • Green and brown roofs
  • Varied shrubs and perennials, as well as areas of wildflower meadow planting, will support birds, pollinators, and other wildlife
  • Bat boxes and nesting boxes for house sparrows and swifts
  • Keeping as many trees as possible (although sadly a number of trees will need to be removed so we can make best use of this site)
  • Removing trees onsite of low ecological value, and replacing some, but not all, with trees of greater variety and quality. You can read more about the tree replacement proposed on our Consultation Response page.
  • Planting semi-mature trees, not saplings, including cherry, birch, alder, hornbeam and beech, alongside new shrubs and perennials. This will provide a good habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
  • A Site Waste Management Plan to reduce waste, aiming to stop up to 95% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste from going to landfill.

Sustainable travel

We are also keen to encourage those living in or visiting Baltic Wharf to move away from their cars and to travel more sustainably. We recognise the health and wellbeing benefits of active travel.

To try and encourage residents and visitors to Baltic Wharf out of their cars, we are:

  • Limiting car parking provision to less than 0.5 spaces per home
  • Delivering electric vehicle charging points for cars
  • Providing 310 cycle parking spaces, in accordance with council policy
  • Ensuring cycle stores are secure stores and installing 2-tier stands in the buildings and communal areas
  • Creating an inviting and accessible walk and cycleway
  • A new public route and open space will connect the River Avon to the Floating Harbour.

We know that some residents will still use private cars – Baltic Wharf will include 74 new car parking spaces (including a minimum of 20% with electric charging points). These will be situated below a podium garden deck or behind the buildings on the eastern boundary. No parking will be visible on the public route. There is a Metrobus Connection on Cumberland Road and we will also be developing a Travel Plan for the scheme.

Managing flood risk

We are currently working with the Environment Agency in relation to possible flood risks and remain confident that the design of the buildings will ensure that all residents and their homes will remain safe and above the predicted levels of any flood event for the next 100 years, factoring in the impacts of climate change.

  • A detailed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) was completed as part of the application and concluded that homes will remain safe and above the predicted levels of any flood event for the next 100 years.
  • FRA dated March 2021 & the sequential test confirms the development is safe and meets all policy & design requirements.
  • Since the application was submitted updated information about predicted flooding has been released and we are continuing to assess our scheme against this.
  • The Baltic Wharf scheme is not reliant on the implementation of the proposed flood protection measures by Bristol City Council.
  • Through our modelling we have also confirmed that there is only a negligible impact on the flood risk to the local area and the development will not exacerbate flood risk elsewhere in Bristol.

Bristol City Council is currently progressing a long-term approach to flood mitigation in the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy, which was endorsed by the council’s Cabinet in March this year.