Bristol Quiet Areas Plan
Seeking the city’s most restorative places.
Bristol Quiet Areas Plan is a new research and engagement project investigating how neurodivergent adults and wider communities experience quiet, accessible, cool, and nature-rich urban spaces across Bristol.
The project is led by University of Gloucestershire in collaboration with Disability.Inc (WECIL) and Visit West, and involving international partners Hush City and Tranquil City. Together, they will develop a Quiet Areas Map featuring three pilot sites in Bristol city centre.
Bristol Quiet Areas Plan builds on the success of Bristol Soundwalks, a longstanding citizen-led initiative that encourages people to listen, map, and reflect on urban soundscapes. The new research project will combine participatory soundwalks, co-creation workshops, accessibility audits, and digital mapping to identify what makes public spaces restorative, accessible, and welcoming for individuals sensitive to sound and sensory environments.
“Quietness is essential for everyone’s wellbeing. By mapping and celebrating Bristol’s accessible and tranquil spaces with those who need them most, we aim to contribute to making the city more inclusive, restorative, and nature-positive.”
Sarah Jones-Morris, Co-Investigator and Jamie Liversedge, Principal Investigator
Project aims
By combining lived experience with environmental data, the project aims to develop a framework for identifying and protecting restorative spaces that enhance quality of life for both people and wildlife.
The findings could guide Bristol City Council’s future strategies on accessibility, nature, and health, supporting the city’s One City Plan and Climate and Ecological Emergency objectives.
Quiet Areas Map
The Quiet Areas Map will help residents and visitors identify restorative places to pause, and quieter pathways between them – small interventions that can significantly increase confidence, independence and willingness to travel.
The map will be hosted on Visit West’s Accessibility Hub and will be available in both digital and downloadable formats. It will showcase three exemplar spaces and create a transferable model for future mapping across the city and wider region.
Funded by the Ecological Citizen(s) Network+ (EPSRC/UKRI EP/W020610/1), the research project runs from December 2025 to August 2026.
The project combines inclusive research with digital innovation to make Bristol more equitable, resilient, and connected – enhancing wellbeing for all through the power of quiet, sensory-aware design.
Advisory group
The project is supported by an Advisory Group bringing together expertise in neurodiversity, accessibility, soundscapes, mapping, and inclusive urban design. The group helps guide research decisions, review findings, and ensure lived experience and technical evidence shape the final Quiet Areas Map.
- Jameson Musyoki – Acoustician specialising in soundscape assessment
- Dan Pope (Inacoustics) – Acoustician with expertise in environmental noise and health
- Dr Antonella Radicchi (Hush City) – International expert in soundscape research and citizen science
- Zoe Gross Banks – sustainability & active-travel advocate, community spatial-justice activist
Contacts
Sarah Jones-Morris, Co-Investigator – email [email protected]
Jamie Liversedge, Principal Investigator – email [email protected]
Useful links
Disability.Inc. (WECIL)
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