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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Festival Fringe street theatre shows under threat
But now the festival's famous street theatre events are under threat over a behind-the-scenes financial crisis. Read more: Organisers have admitted they can no longer afford to meet the soaring costs of running official spaces for performers, who have been a familiar sight at the festival since the 1970s. Local business are being urged to help pay the £250,000 needed to meet all of this year's street events staffing, safety, security and infrastructure costs, including providing temporary toilets and storage facilities for performers. The Royal Mile is thronged with visitors watching street performers during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The loss of a major sponsor for the street events, a shortage of public funding for the Fringe and rising city council charges are all said to have put the free outdoor performances from jugglers, acrobats, fire artists, magicians, 'living statues' and buskers at increasing risk. The arts charity has admitted it has been 'increasingly challenging' to stage the street events since the Covid pandemic, despite scaling back infrastructure and branding to drive down costs, which is also said to have made the street events less attractive to potential sponsors. The Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe The society revealed it was 'actively seeking' new support from businesses to help pay for 'core elements' of this year's street events programme, but may have to use some of its financial resources to ensure they go safely ahead in August. Chief executive Tony Lankester said there was a need for further talks after this year's festival to try to ensure the street performance are more 'sustainable' in future. Mr Lankester, who is overseeing his first festival after being appointed in January, described the street events as 'world-class and vital to the vibrant atmosphere in Edinburgh each August". The society was asked by the city council to take responsibility for the increasingly street performances in 1999 following the success of a move to close part of the Royal Mile to traffic during the Fringe. The society, which negotiates with the city council and the police on where performances should take place, works with officially registered street entertainers to allocate slots for performances the three-week festival. Most of the running costs of the street events were usually met by commercial sponsors, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland or Virgin Money, the most recent backer before the pandemic. However the only public funding in place for the street events this year is a £75,000 grant from the city council, the only direct funding it provides for the festival, which has been valued at more than £200 million to the economy and sells more than two million tickets every year. The Herald can reveal that the Fringe Society faces having to pay more than £40,000 back to the council following the introduction of a new charging regime for event organisers this year. The Scottish Government has helped meet the costs of putting on the street events in recent years but has yet to confirm any support for this year's festival, which gets underway in just seven weeks. A spokesperson for the society said: 'Street events have been an integral part of the Fringe landscape since the 1970s. They remain one of the largest international gatherings of street performers anywhere, they take place throughout the festival and are free for anyone to attend. 'We took on the operational running of street events at the request of the council in 1999. The delivery costs prior to Covid were generally funded by a single sponsor, which enabled us to cover the costs of staging and supporting the events. 'Since Covid, the market has changed, and the streetscape itself prioritises performance and the movement of people over branded street furniture, making a headline sponsor challenging to secure.' The Fringe Society described the street events as 'a central part of the experience of many residents and visitors in Edinburgh each summer.' The spokesperson added: 'We work closely with the council and local businesses to ensure they are delivered each year, and we're proud of the collaborative approach we've built in recent years. 'But the burden of finding in excess of £250,000 every year for the minimum delivery of the street events is increasingly challenging. 'We are actively seeking partners and supporters who, through activation, in-kind support and donations, can help us ensure we can cover the cost of the required core services to deliver safe, open, accessible and inclusive street events for 2025.' Mr Lankester said: ''The street events are world-class and vital to the vibrant atmosphere in Edinburgh each August. 'They are an essential, iconic and unique part of what Edinburgh offers its visitors and residents and the Fringe Society is committed to making sure this remains true. 'This year we have attracted some public funding to help us deliver the project, and the work of deepening the pool of funders continues. 'We're having some good conversations with local businesses who want to ensure that the energy the project brings to the streets is retained. 'Once this summer is behind us, we urge everyone with an interest in keeping street events thriving to put their heads together to find ways of making the project sustainable, and to be an ongoing part of the summer experience in Edinburgh.' Margaret Graham, the city council's culture convener, said: 'We're proud to host the world's best and largest collection of arts festivals, and the Fringe is an important part of this. 'In recognition of and support for its enduring importance, the Council provides significant grant funding to the Fringe Society. 'The new Fringe HQ in Infirmary Street has been a collaboration between the council and the Fringe Society. This is in addition to considerable operational support from officers to help stage the event, from street management to public safety. 'All of this is in close partnership with event organisers, and I'm pleased that we have such a good working relationship. The recent formation of a festivals leadership group is helping to shape a shared vision for the future of Edinburgh's Festivals, which bring so much to the city.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Government agency EventScotland confirmed discussions were still ongoing with the Fringe Society over potential support for the street events.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Anthea Turner shares rare insight into relationship with fiancé Mark Armstrong
Anthea Turner shares rare insight into relationship with fiancé Mark Armstrong The 65-year-old TV presenter - who released her healthy lifestyle book, How to Age Well: The Secrets, in 2021 - met 59-year-old businessman Mark Armstrong in 2019 Anthea is currently with long-term beau Mark Armstrong (Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I ) Anthea Turner has made her fiancé "healthier" since they met. The 65-year-old TV presenter - who released her healthy lifestyle book, How to Age Well: The Secrets, in 2021 - met 59-year-old businessman Mark Armstrong in 2019, and as she has been vocal about being active and ditching processed foods, it has motivated him to improve his body. In an interview with Woman's Weekly magazine, she said: "Mark is definitely healthier since he met me." The couple enjoy making "good food from scratch" in their London home, instead of going out to restaurants. Anthea said: "We live in London but don't go out to restaurants much. Mark comes from an Italian family who cooked and by osmosis, he learnt from being in the kitchen with his grandma and mum. "We both enjoy creating good food from scratch." Article continues below The former Blue Peter presenter and Mark "feel married" even though they have delayed their getting hitched multiple times. Anthea - who previously said the loss of her and Mark's mothers and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic were factors in the pair postponing their nuptials - added: "We talk about it, then we don't talk about it, and then something happens. "Of course, we feel married because we've been together for six years." The star - who insisted she and Mark will tie the knot one day - insisted the pair are "very connected", and she cherishes their relationship. She added: "I am never lonely with Mark, even if he's not in. We are very connected. "I cherish our relationship and my life, probably because I realise I've got more air miles behind me than I have in front. I feel very grateful." Anthea and Mark planned to get hitched in Rome, Italy, in September 2020, and she recently revealed the special occasion will now take place "in the UK". In an interview with Bella magazine in May, she said: "We haven't sorted out the wedding - we have to get our act together. "I don't want the faff of organising anything abroad, so it will be in the UK. "God knows how many bridesmaids I'm going to have!" Anthea's first husband was BBC Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell, 74, and the couple were married from 1990 until 1998. The former Top of the Pops presenter was next married to TV personality Grant Bovey, 64, from 2000 until 2015. Anthea became a stepmother to Grant's three daughters - Lily, 33, Amelia, 32, and Claudia, 29 - when the pair got married in 2000, and despite her separation from their dad, she is still actively involved in their lives and they share a special bond. She said: "Being a stepmum for me is one of my favourite roles. "I love all three of my stepdaughters, and we have a great bond. Article continues below "I wasn't lucky enough to have my own children, but I knew I would adore these three little girls who were quite young when they came into my life. "I'm so lucky to have them in my life despite the fact that their dad and I are no longer together."
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Harry and Meghan's 'fate sealed' by Queen's crunch Trooping the Colour decision
In the months after Prince Harry and Meghan quit their royal duties for a new life in California, the late Queen made a major decision over the Trooping the Colour guest list, which is still impacting the annual event With Trooping the Colour right around the corner, all the senior working royals are expected to step out on Saturday to celebrate the King's birthday, and revel in the magnificent procession to Buckingham Palace. And while most of the notable royal family members will make an appearance on the day, there will be a select few faces that will be missing. This is largely due to a rule instituted by the late Queen Elizabeth, following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's exodus from the Firm. Before the Sussexes took a step back from royal life to relocate to California in 2020, the couple attended two Trooping the Colour events: the first in 2018, shortly after their wedding at Windsor Castle, and again in 2019, just one month after the birth of their son Archie. The annual event came to a standstill in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. The celebration still went ahead, but as a very scaled back version in Windsor as opposed to London. In years past, the late Queen Elizabeth would often invite the royal family at large to join her on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast, but that all changed for the return of the grand Trooping the Colour event in 2022, which coincided with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. For the first time, the Queen decided to only invite working members of the royal family to the balcony, meaning both Harry and Meghan, along with Prince Andrew, were omitted from the royal line up. At the time, Buckingham Palace said the monarch's decision to only include royals carrying out official public duties was taken "after careful consideration". The symbolic gesture meant Harry and Meghan, who had left royal life behind, and Prince Andrew, were not able to attend the event in an official capacity. While Harry and Meghan were in attendance at the 2022 event, they kept a very low profile. They watched the parade from a window and were also not part of the carriage procession. The royals who were lucky enough to receive an invitation from the Queen to join her on the balcony for Trooping was the then-Prince Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The monarch made an exception for Anne's husband Sir Tim, who is not a working royal, her two youngest grandchildren Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, and her great-grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis. Deciding to stick to the precedent set by his late mother, King Charles also opted for a striped-back balcony appearance in 2023 and 2024. The balcony appearance in 2023 was one of the smallest groupings in recent royal history, with the King being joined by his wife Queen Camilla, the Wales family, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, while the Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester stood off to the side. In 2024, there were only 15 royals on the balcony, as the King was joined by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, their three children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their daughter Lady Louise, Princess Anne, her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. While the guest list for the 2025 Trooping the Colour has yet to be confirmed, it is likely that another sparse royal balcony is expected.
