The opening of the long awaited South Bristol Link Road today (January 16) will provide a further shot in the arm for businesses based on some of South Bristol’s longest established industrial estates.
That’s the view of Paul Williams from Bruton Knowles’ Bristol office – who says the ability to get vehicles directly on to a main trunk road will save firms an enormous amount of time – and money.
He said: “Industrial estates such as South Liberty Lane and Brookgate will now have access on to the Link Road – saving them the trouble of negotiating the narrow exits on to Winterstoke Road and helping ease congestion.
“Industrial premises in this area have been at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts on the North Bristol fringe who are better able to access the motorway network and this has been reflected in lower rental levels.
“Improved access should lead to higher rents being achievable over time, which in turn should encourage landlords to invest in their premises, and estate owners seeing benefit in improving their holdings.
“Any increase in occupational costs for tenants should be more than offset by increased efficiency and productivity resulting from better traffic flows to and from their premises.
“The new Link Road will help balance the scales and could encourage investment into the business accommodation in this key area of the city.”
The new route will also provide a useful link for the new wave of fast developing business communities in South Bristol, such as the Bottle Yard Studios and city council-sponsored Filwood Green Business Park.
Paul Williams said opening the road had been crucial for an area facing unprecedented levels of roadworks at multiple locations on routes into and across the city.
“The city council has announced major roadworks on the principal routes into the town centre which are due to last anything up to 18 months.”
Works on Hartcliffe Way, the East Street-West Street Sheene Road junction in Bedminster and the major re-working of the Temple Circus Roundabout will cause disruption to the operation of many business premises in the affected areas.
Paul said that traffic-affected firms could claim reductions on their business rates if trade was lost though reduced customer visits, time delays on deliveries and staff movements.
“We have acted for clients in the past on Material Change of Circumstances, including building works and road works – which can result in temporary business rates reductions.
“If occupiers are affected operationally or functionally then we could be making appeals on their behalf.”