Bristol Arena: U-turns, rows and Covid lead to decades of delay
After more than 20 years of promises, bitter rows and tens of millions of pounds spent, the prospect of a music arena in Bristol is inching closer. The chief executive of the company behind the project has said The 19,000-seater YTL Arena "will open in 2028" after years of delays. First announced in 2018, the latest plans for the arena will place it at the centre of the Brabazon development in Filton, which will also include 6,500 homes.But with concert goers facing at least another three year wait until the music kicks in, many will be asking why has it taken so long?
The start of a long journey
Plans for an arena in Bristol were first mooted in 2003 as part of the city's bid to become the European Capital of Culture for 2008. Plans for a 10,000 capacity multi-purpose venue on a brownfield site near Temple Meads station formed part of the bid. Bristol's bid failed - and despite buying land earmarked for the arena, the city council shelved the plans in 2007, claiming it wasn't "viable" amid spiralling costs.
Back and forth to Temple Meads
In 2009, new plans for a 15,000-seater music and sport venue were floated at a site in Ashton Vale close to where Bristol City Football Club wanted to build a new stadium.But three years later, the city council said it wanted to revive the plans on the Temple Meads site - with the then Liberal Democrat council committing to funding it.In 2014, plans for a 12,000-capacity venue were approved by the authority, which was spearheaded by the then city mayor George Ferguson. But the £92.5m project was beset by delays and rising costs, with the opening date pushed back to 2018. In 2016, there was confusion over plans to build an eight-storey car park at the site, with councillors deferring a final decision on the plans due to a "lack of detail" around infrastructure.
In 2017, the arena became the battleground for bitter infighting at City Hall - with Mayor Marvin Rees claiming "nothing was off the table" when it came to its location.In January 2018, he confirmed he was considering a privately-funded offer from the Malaysian-owned construction company YTL to move the project to the Filton site - before scrapping plans at Temple Meads the following autumn.The decision, which went against council recommendations, showed "contempt for democracy", some councillors said. Following the mayor's announcement, the Labour MP for the Temple Meads area, Karyn Smyth claimed millions of pounds had been spent to "achieve precisely nothing" and that her constituents "deserved better".
Take off at Filton
In 2019, YTL revealed its plans for an arena on the former Filton airfield.The 17,000-capacity venue was then given the go-ahead by Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and the Government. In 2023, YTL admitted "challenges" brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic meant the arena wouldn't open until 2026 at the latest. The developer has now said the project is "ready to go" and is set to open in three years' time.
While construction is yet to begin on the arena, work on a railway station to bring concert-goers to the venue is under way.YTL this week revealed plans for a large public square next to the proposed new station, to be called called Station Square.Elsewhere, hundreds of people have already bought and moved into new homes as part of the development, and there are plans for schools, student accommodation and sports facilities.
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