Planning permission granted for new Bristol University library

Grant Associates is part of the team working on the University of Bristol’s landmark new library building at the heart of its Clifton campus, which has now received planning permission.

The new library looks to become a “cultural destination” for the city of Bristol, boasting a host of world class facilities when it opens in 2026. The library will offer sizeable space for learning and research with capacity for 2,000 new study seats, 420,000 books, and 70,000 journals. The upper floors will be open to university staff and students; the ground floor will be publicly accessible, containing exhibition galleries, a cafe and events spaces.

The library forms a key part of the university’s vision and strategy for transforming the Clifton campus, which includes new and enhanced facilities and improvements to public realm, creating a welcoming heart to the university for students, staff and the community at large.

Grant Associates has worked closely with architects Hawkins\Brown and Schmidt Hammer Lassen, alongside engineers Buro Happold and Arup, to support a holistic and sustainable design approach for the proposals that included a wider design of the surrounding streetscape and public realm.

Key public realm enhancements will include improved public transport and traffic flow, a safer environment with more provisions for both cyclists and pedestrians and a new pedestrianised civic square that will link the library, the refurbished Senate House and Royal Fort Gardens. The landscape proposals also include semi-mature tree planting, rain gardens, external seating terraces and planted accessible roof terraces within the library’s upper floors.

For further information, read the Bristol24/7 online news story.