Built on the River Avon, Bristol became a gateway to the world, growing and prospering thanks to that riverside location. But having a river at the heart of the city comes with challenges we need to plan for, especially in the face of climate change and rising sea levels.
Our city is at risk of flooding from both the sea tide coming up, and flow coming down the River Avon. There have been more than 20 minor tidal floods in the past decade alone, putting both central and nearby properties at risk. With future increases in sea and river levels, this is likely to get worse. We are working with the Environment Agency to deliver a long-term plan to better protect homes and businesses from flooding and enhance the river for all, in a way which works for Bristol year-round, not just when the river floods.
Better protecting Bristol and neighbouring communities from flooding along the River Avon and enhancing the riverside for people and nature.
Avon Riversides 2100 is a £250m+ city‑scale resilience and regeneration programme that will protect Bristol from rising tidal flood risk while also unlocking new homes, jobs and high‑quality public spaces.
It is led by Bristol City Council in partnership with the Environment Agency and the West of England Combined Authority, with the programme embedding climate resilience into the heart of the city’s growth plans, safeguarding it’s long‑term economic competitiveness.
Beyond flood protection, Avon Riversides 2100 offers a once-in-generation opportunity to reshape Bristol’s relationship with the River Avon through new public spaces, improved connections between neighbourhoods and enhanced riverside environments.
The project will deliver around 15 kilometres of future‑proofed flood infrastructure, while creating high‑quality regeneration, improved transport corridors and climate‑ready urban growth across Central Bristol.
As the project moves forward, Bristol is looking for long‑term partnerships and investment that share its vision: creating resilient waterfront places that stand the test of time.
Bristol is leading by example in taking action on climate change. We are actively undertaking and promoting action to become a carbon neutral and climate resilient city – including investment in the low carbon sector. We all need to radically rethink how we live, work and invest in the city. As a city that leads on responsible production and consumption, we can develop new business models centred on sustainable consumption, reducing waste and developing a circular economy.
Bristol has a long history of climate action, building up its own capacity and capability, investing nearly £100million in low carbon projects, with support from the European Investment Bank. We are proud of the fact that Bristol was the first UK city to declare a climate emergency. We have set goals to become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030 which are outlined in our One City Climate Strategy (February 2020). But, to achieve the scale and pace of change, we need to innovate.
