The company behind the redevelopment of the former Filton Airfield has submitted plans to create the UK’s third biggest entertainment arena complex within three redundant hangars on the site.

YTL Developments (UK) Ltd has submitted a suite of four planning applications to Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council – proposing a repurposing of the enormous Brabazon Hangars, the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the adjacent railway line, the provision of a temporary car park for 2,000 vehicles and highway improvements to allow access for service vehicles.

The developer says the new complex will create more than 500 new jobs and inject £1.5 billion into the local economy over 25 years.

Managing director of YTL Arena Complex, Andrew Billingham, said:

“YTL’s commitment is demonstrated as we submit our exciting plans to deliver a 100 percent privately funded entertainment complex for Bristol. It uses the 28,000sqm floorspace of all three hangars to create something unique in the south west: an arena, exhibition and leisure space all under one roof.”

Three venues in one

The arena will be in the Central Hangar and with 17,080 capacity, it will be the third largest in the UK after Manchester and the O2. The East Hangar will house a new Festival Hall, a flat floor event space for conventions, exhibitions and working in tandem with the arena to attract large scale events. The West Hangar, The Hub, will be a place to eat, work and play, with leisure facilities, food and drink and home to small or start-up businesses.

Mr Billingham continued:

“We’re building much more than just an arena – it’s a 365-day entertainment destination inside the iconic Brabazon Hangars that will create new jobs, bring new business to the region and enhance Bristol’s position as a leading European city.”

“Sustainability is a key focus. Our plans include zero waste to landfill, harvesting rainwater and installing solar panels on the vast roof area. By repurposing the existing hangars, the proposals will save more than 18,600 tonnes of carbon emissions alone. The development of a landscape strategy will be sympathetic to the local surroundings and the approved former Filton Airfield scheme.”

More: Up to 80% of visitors are expected to travel by private car »

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The delayed redevelopment of a currently vacant major industrial site on the corner of Gipsy Patch Lane and the A38 Gloucester Road could be moving closer after a ‘reserved matters’ planning application was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.

The 26.5ha Rolls-Royce East Works site already has outline planning permission for a mixed use development comprising offices, light industry, general industry, storage and distribution, car dealerships and a hotel.

The purpose of the ‘reserved matters’ application is to finalise details that were left open in the original application.

Outline planning permission for the site was granted as long ago as 2009, but Rolls-Royce’s chosen development partner ProLogis pulled out of the deal in the same year, blaming the “adverse economic situation”.

Rolls-Royce subsequently demolished its former factory on the site and the land has since remained unused pending an upturn in the economy.

An application to extend the three-year time limit on the outline planning permission was granted in June 2012 and the current application has been made just weeks before that extension was due to expire.

According to a transport statement submitted with the application, there will be three access points into the development; two on Gipsy Patch Lane and one on the A38.

An outline planning application that includes up to 24ha of stand-alone employment use on land on the other side of the A38 (as part of the proposed Filton Airfield redevelopment) is currently under consideration by the council.

Image: Location of the East Works site (click to enlarge).

Related link: East Works Redevelopment (The Journal)

This article originally appeared in the June 2015 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

UPDATE: Plans to develop the former Filton Airfield site were approved at a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s Development Control (West) Planning Committee on Thursday 4th June.

The King George VI public house, on the corner of Filton Avenue and Station Road, looks set to be converted to a retail outlet after a ‘change of use’ planning application was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council.

The application, made by Brewers, a national chain of decorating material suppliers, seeks permission to change the use of the building from ‘public house’ (Class A4) to ‘retail’ (Class A1) and also foresees the provision of four self-contained flats on the first floor of the property.

In a ‘design and access statement’ submitted as part of the application, the company’s agent writes:

“The pub has obviously failed to survive in the recent poor and sustained economic climate.”

“In the light of the current employment climate and the need for housing, we feel the proposal is not unreasonable – creating both jobs and accommodation.”

Subject to approval, the new owners will operate the ground floor as a shop, leaving the flats above for rental.

A total of 37 parking spaces will be provided at the site, with some being designated for use by tenants of the flats and the others for use by staff and customers of the shop.

Public consultation on the planning application runs until 6th June.

South Gloucestershire councillors are to carry out an inspection of the Filton Police Station site this Friday (14th February) to assess the impact of a proposed redevelopment that would see the construction of 18 affordable homes.

The public meeting, due to start at around 11.15am, will see members of the Development Control (West) Sites Inspection Sub-Committee assess “the impact on the character and visual amenity of the area, the impact on residential amenity and highway safety and amenity”.

The inspection was ordered by the Development Control (West) Committee at its meeting on 30th January, despite being the committee being advised to approve the planning application in a report prepared by council officers.

Following the site inspection, the application is likely to be re-considered by the Development Control (West) Committe on 27th February.

Filton Town Council has raised no objections to the scheme, saying it “should enhance the area”, but three letters of objection have been received from local residents, citing amongst other issues, concerns about highway safety, overbearing appearance (part of the proposed development is 3-storey) and insufficient car parking.

The applicant, Knightstone Housing, has indicated that it is unable to meet the S106 financial contributions that would usually be expected under the council’s policies, on the grounds that the scheme consists of 100% affordable homes.

According to the council officers’ report, Knightstone would need to commence building on the site in April 2014, to ensure completion by 31st March 2015, which is a requirement of Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) grant funding.

More info: Agenda for the Sites Inspection Sub-Committee visit