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BBC News
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 this week revealed plans for a large public square next to the proposed new station, to be called called Station 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.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Bristol Arena: Plans in place to minimise parking issues
Plans are in place to tackle possible parking problems in neighbourhoods around Bristol Arena, the project's boss has arena, due to open in 2028, is being built by Malaysian firm YTL at the centre of the Brabazon development in Filton. The firm recently announced plans to increase the arena's capacity from 17,000 to 19,500 - sparking concerns about City Council was urged last month to carry out transport surveys ahead of the arena opening, over fears of a flood of cars on nearby residential Billingham, chief executive of YTL, said he "understands the concerns raised" but the firm is committed to "minimising any impact on neighbouring communities". Developers at YTL have this week revealed plans for a large public square next to the proposed new railway station, to be called called Station documents shared by the firm, the land north of the station is described as a "flexible open space" where, on days where there are not events at the arena, markets could be held. On event days, the square has been designed to hold up to 1,500 people in queuing lanes for those hoping to use the station. The Filton arena was first announced in 2018 but its opening has already been delayed multiple include creating an outdoor cinema, ice rink and sports courts, as well as 6,500 homes across the wider site.A new railway station able to accommodate five-carriage trains with up to 582 passengers is due to be built near to the arena.A 1,600 space car park next to the arena, a shuttle bus from the city centre and dedicated park-and-ride schemes will also be in operation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Mr Billingham said YTL was investing heavily to "promote sustainable transport and reduce reliance on cars"."Our commitment is to ensure that concert-goers and visitors can travel to and from the arena efficiently while minimising any impact on neighbouring communities," he said."We are committed to monitoring parking levels in surrounding areas and will work with local authorities to address any potential issues."
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bristol: YTL Arena in Filton 'will open in 2028'
Bristol's long-awaited arena "will open in 2028", the chief executive of the company behind it has said. The 19,000-seater YTL Arena, initially announced in 2018, is planned to be the centre of the Brabazon development in Filton, which will also include 6,500 homes. The huge scheme has been much delayed, with developers - Malaysian-owned YTL -initially saying it could be open by 2022. But Colin Skellett, the chief executive of YTL UK, has now said the project is "ready to go", after "lots of pricing, lots of detail". Asked how confident the firm was about this date, he said: "It's the best guarantee I can give you." The Brabazon arena has been promoted as a more affordable alternative to a previously council-backed site next to Bristol Temple Meads railway was first been proposed in 2003, but building work never started. More news stories for BristolWatch the latest Points WestListen to the latest news for Bristol Since the project moved to the Filton site there have been delays, and from the outside the giant existing aircraft hangers look unchanged. YTL say some internal preparatory work has been done, but Mr Skellet explained that that the Covid-19 pandemic had set progress back. While construction is yet to begin on the arena, work on a railway station to bring concert-goers to the venue is under way. The brand new station, North Filton, is set open as an unstaffed station in late 2026, though this is set to be enlarged later when the arena nears completion. 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.
