North Fringe (Bristol)
Encyclopedia
The North Fringe of Bristol
, England
, is a geographical term used to describe a now largely developed area between the northern edge of the administrative city
of Bristol and the M4
and M5 motorway
s. Its eastern edge is usually defined as the M32 motorway
. The area falls within South Gloucestershire
Council.
, Patchway
, and Stoke Gifford
. Bristol Parkway railway station
was opened at Stoke Gifford in the 1970s. The University of the West of England
(UWE) has its main campus in the area, at Frenchay
.
As a result of major pressures for development for housing, industry, offices and out-of-town shopping, the then local authority, Northavon
District Council prepared the North Fringe Local Plan for the area in 1987. This confirmed previous decisions in the Avon County Council
structure plan, to remove land from the green belt
at Patchway Common. The area was subsequently developed as the new settlement of Bradley Stoke
. At around the same time, decisions were taken to develop major retail parks, and subsequently The Mall retail development, at Cribbs Causeway
adjoining junction 17 of the M5.
The North Fringe area, because of its highly accessible location adjoining two major motorways and on the edge of the major population centre of Bristol, experienced very substantial growth in housing and, in particular, employment during the 1980s and 1990s, which is still continuing. The first major business park in the area was Aztec West
, adjoining junction 16 of the M5. The North Fringe had over 67,000 jobs in 2001. It now has severe road traffic congestion problems, particularly on the main roads, the A4174
and A38
, as well as the motorways themselves.
Developments immediately to the east of this area and the M32, for instance at Emersons Green
, are sometimes referred to as the East Fringe of Bristol.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, is a geographical term used to describe a now largely developed area between the northern edge of the administrative city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Bristol and the M4
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and M5 motorway
M5 motorway
The M5 is a motorway in England. It runs from a junction with the M6 at West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter in Devon. Heading south-west, the M5 runs east of West Bromwich and west of Birmingham through Sandwell Valley...
s. Its eastern edge is usually defined as the M32 motorway
M32 motorway
The M32 is a motorway in South Gloucestershire and Bristol, England. It provides a link from Bristol city centre to the M4 and is part of the Bristol Parkway. At about , it is one of Britain's shortest motorways...
. The area falls within South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire
South Gloucestershire is a unitary district in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, in South West England.-History:The district was created in 1996, when the county of Avon was abolished, by the merger of former area of the districts of Kingswood and Northavon...
Council.
Development of the area
Before the motorways were built in the 1960s and 1970s, the area contained the suburban villages of FiltonFilton
Filton is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Bristol, about from the city centre. Filton lies in Bristol postcode areas BS7 and BS34. The town centres upon Filton Church, which dates back to the 12th century and is a grade II listed building...
, Patchway
Patchway
Patchway is a town in South Gloucestershire, England, situated northwest of central Bristol. The town is a housing overflow for Bristol being contiguous to Bristol's urban area, and is often regarded as a large outer suburb. Nearby are the other Bristol satellite towns of Filton and Bradley Stoke....
, and Stoke Gifford
Stoke Gifford
Stoke Gifford is a large dormitory village, and parish in South Gloucestershire, England, in the northern suburbs of Bristol. It has around 11,000 residents as of the 2001 Census. It is home to Bristol Parkway station, on the London-South Wales railway line, and the Bristol offices of Friends Life...
. Bristol Parkway railway station
Bristol Parkway railway station
Bristol Parkway railway station is situated in Stoke Gifford in the northern suburbs of Bristol, England. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail, and is managed by First Great Western....
was opened at Stoke Gifford in the 1970s. The University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
(UWE) has its main campus in the area, at Frenchay
Frenchay
Frenchay is a suburb of Bristol, England, to the north east of the city, but located mainly in South Gloucestershire and the Civil Parish of Winterbourne....
.
As a result of major pressures for development for housing, industry, offices and out-of-town shopping, the then local authority, Northavon
Northavon
Northavon was a district in the English county of Avon from 1974 to 1996.The district was formed by the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974 as part of a reform of local authorities throughout England and Wales. Under the reorganisation, the area surrounding the cities of Bath and Bristol was...
District Council prepared the North Fringe Local Plan for the area in 1987. This confirmed previous decisions in the Avon County Council
Avon County Council
Avon County Council was the county council of the non-metropolitan county of Avon in south west England. It came into its powers on 1 April 1974 and was abolished on 1 April 1996 at the same time as the county. The county council was based in Bristol at Avon House and Avon House North...
structure plan, to remove land from the green belt
Green Belt (UK)
In United Kingdom town planning, the green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth. The idea is for a ring of countryside where urbanisation will be resisted for the foreseeable future, maintaining an area where agriculture, forestry and outdoor leisure can be expected to prevail...
at Patchway Common. The area was subsequently developed as the new settlement of Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke
Bradley Stoke is a dormitory town/suburb in South Gloucestershire, England, situated on the north side of the city of Bristol. Named after the local Bradley Brook and Stoke Brook streams, the town was planned in the 1970s and building began in 1987...
. At around the same time, decisions were taken to develop major retail parks, and subsequently The Mall retail development, at Cribbs Causeway
Cribbs Causeway
Cribbs Causeway is a road in South Gloucestershire, England, just north of Bristol, which has given its name to a large out-of-town shopping centre, including retail parks and an enclosed shopping centre known as The Mall...
adjoining junction 17 of the M5.
The North Fringe area, because of its highly accessible location adjoining two major motorways and on the edge of the major population centre of Bristol, experienced very substantial growth in housing and, in particular, employment during the 1980s and 1990s, which is still continuing. The first major business park in the area was Aztec West
Aztec West
Aztec West is a business park in South Gloucestershire, England, situated at the northern fringes of Greater Bristol, near Bradley Stoke and Patchway. It is close to the M4 and M5 motorways and the Almondsbury Interchange. Adjacent is the A38 trunk road....
, adjoining junction 16 of the M5. The North Fringe had over 67,000 jobs in 2001. It now has severe road traffic congestion problems, particularly on the main roads, the A4174
A4174 road
The A4174 is a major road in England which runs around the northern and eastern edge of Bristol, mainly in South Gloucestershire, and through the southern suburbs of Bristol...
and A38
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
, as well as the motorways themselves.
Developments immediately to the east of this area and the M32, for instance at Emersons Green
Emersons Green
Emersons Green is a residential area on the northern outskirts of Bristol, England. It was developed from farming land during the 1990s and early 21st century, and sits between the historic villages of Mangotsfield and Downend...
, are sometimes referred to as the East Fringe of Bristol.