By Dickon Hooper BBC News, Bristol

More than �1bn is currently set aside for developing Bristol - much of which appears never to have recovered from Hitler's efforts.

In line with government thinking, mixed-use, regenerated brownfield sites are the order of the day.

Hard hats a must in Bristol centre

Once the projects are completed, the city will boast a revamped "transport hub" around Temple Meads, a rejuvenated Broadmead and a 10,000-seater arena.

Plus more shops, flats, bars, restaurants and offices than you could shake a stick at.

There are three main schemes - Broadmead, Temple Quarter and The Harbourside - and the ethos behind them is clear, if not codified.

Bristolians - who lack a European-like centre in a fragmented city - need some space to work, rest and play.

The new triangle of developments will realign Bristol city centre and give residents three new areas to explore.

Broadmead

The concrete jungle of Broadmead is due to be expanded and given a much-needed facelift.

No one goes to Broadmead to do anything but shop but, according to John Hirst, Broadmead manager, what is on offer is not enough.

"Customer research says we need a better range of stores," he said.

"We want to be a one-stop-shopping centre and lead in the region: we don't do this at the moment."

Three developers, grouped as the Bristol Alliance, plan to expand Broadmead near the M32 in a �500m scheme, due to open in 2008.

Marks & Spencer has already signed up as the flagship store, after Selfridges pulled out, and up to 220 new homes are also planned.

And just to make sure the existing Broadmead doesn't feel left out, it is due a revamp.

A scheme called UKBids is planned to go through Parliament to create Business Improvement Districts.

Retailers foot more of the development bill in these districts, but get more of a say in what happens.

"A majority agreeing on a proposal is all that is needed," says Mr Hirst.

"If we don't do it this way, who should pay? The council?"

Expect this to take off late next year.

The Harbourside

Industrial activity finished at this 16-acre site almost 40 years ago, and it is a place most Bristolians ignore on their way to @Bristol, Millennium Square or the Cathedral.

But three landowners and seven developers plan to turn The Harbourside into a mix of offices, shops and homes, plus a 'Cornishesque Village' and marina, where people actively go to spend the day.

The quarter is being designed to complement - financially and in terms of city attractions - existing facilities by the waterfront and Temple Quarter.

About 360 flats are projected: 50 are already sold and 15% have been allocated as social housing to be run by a housing association.

Developers Crest Nicholson says it will lose about �80,000 per unit that it sells to the association.

The timetable for completion is staggered over the next six years, Ian Cawley from Crest told BBC News during a guided tour of the site.

"The first phase - retail, cafes and bars - must be done in the next two years.

"Once the gas board has finished clearing its site, we can start there on offices and then residential by February next year."

Temple Quarter

Perhaps the most complex, ambitious and, at �750m, expensive project, Temple Quarter will sit around Temple Meads and could take up to 25 years to complete.

The overseer, the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA), has a three-pronged approach to the 115-acre site.

First up is Temple Quay 2 - the fenced off area around the station and over the river - which will provide more offices, up to 500 new houses, plus the usual bars and restaurants.

Peter Holloway, regeneration consultant for the RDA, insists the city can accommodate more office space.

"As companies move into new offices, their old premises - which are a bit tired - can be turned around into flats, for example.

"Demand has outstripped supply in the last five years, although it is plateauing now."

This will all sit around a new Temple Meads station, billed as the transport hub of the city - although the bus station will stay where it is.

Plans for this will be released soon and are due to include a revamped Commonwealth Museum.

But perhaps the most exciting part of the Quarter will be the new 10,000-seater Bristol Arena.

"We are looking for a developer now and expect bids in the next six months on this, said Mr Holloway.

He added that it will be 2005 before the plans are unveiled, and 2008 before the Arena could be opened.