The Bristol and London-based practice’s plans for the Grade II-listed Canons Wharf building in Bristol’s harbourside secured planning last week (26 May) through delegated powers.
BGY’s scheme will transform the 28,800m² single-tenant occupancy office building – a colonnaded crescent overlooking a waterfront amphitheatre – into a ‘future-proof, vibrant, multi-tenanted office building’. The scheme will provide 18,300m² of refurbished workspace alongside ‘industry-leading amenities [and] cultural spaces’ for public use.
Workplace and wellbeing facilities include a coffee shop, gardens, restaurants overlooking the harbourside, saunas, cold plunge, a performance gym and an exercise studio.
The project also includes a podcast studio and a 200-capacity auditorium for talks and cultural events, and a rooftop boardroom and events space offering panoramic views of Bristol.
Canons Wharf was built between 1988 and 1991 as a regional headquarters for Lloyds Bank after it decided to relocate all of its retail banking functions to a single site outside of London.
Historic England describes the building, which was listed in 2022 and features an integrated amphitheatre, as ‘one of Bristol’s key public assembly spaces’ and a ‘distinctive harbourside landmark’.
At the time of its listing, then culture minister Nigel Huddleston described it as a ‘striking example of Postmodernist architecture’ and an ‘iconic Bristol landmark’.
BGY was appointed to design the retrofit by London-based client and real estate manager Kinrise & Mactaggart Family & Partners in 2024. A planning application was submitted in early 2025.
Andrew Brown and Nick Jones, who lead BGY’s Bristol office, said: ‘Despite its prominence, as a private office headquarters for Lloyds Bank, Canons Wharf has always turned its back to the city.
‘Over the last 15 months, alongside the wider team, we have carefully crafted a design that responds to the building’s character, enables a multi-let future and creates new opportunities to bring the public inside. Achieving planning and listed building consent is a big step on our journey to transform this landmark building for Bristol.’
They added: ‘For us, this has never just been about delivering great office space – although it will absolutely be that. It’s about repairing the building’s relationship with the city around it; opening it up, activating the edges, and providing the ability for people to engage with it in a way they simply haven’t been able to before.’
BGY had previously said the scheme would be ‘the largest speculative office repositioning project’ undertaken in Bristol city centre to date, creating Bristol’s largest office development.
Arup is also back on the project design team, as structural engineer, services engineer and fire consultant, alongside Turner & Townsend as project manager, Quantum as cost consultant and Pegasus as heritage and planning consultant.
Kinrise investment director and head of development Kilian Kleine said: ‘Securing planning permission for Canons Wharf is a significant step forward in bringing this exceptional building back to life. Our vision is to create a workplace that is not only best-in-class in terms of design and sustainability, but one that genuinely adds to the energy of Bristol’s iconic harbourside.
‘By combining architectural design with carefully curated amenities, from social and cultural spaces to wellbeing-led facilities, we are creating a destination where businesses and people can truly thrive. Canons Wharf will be a place that reflects Bristol’s ambition, creativity and sense of community, and we’re excited to move into the next phase of delivery.’
The project is scheduled to complete next year.
Buckley Gray Yeoman (BGY) will retrofit Canons Wharf on Bristol’s harbourside