Plans to Expand Bristol YTL Arena Bring Parking Worries to Light
The potential expansion of the new Bristol YTL Arena has sparked concerns over potential parking problems in neighboring communities. Located just south of the arena, residential areas like Brentry, along with a new housing estate under construction off Charlton Road, could be impacted by the increased capacity of the arena.
The planned location of the arena, on the northern edge of Bristol’s city limits, raises questions about transportation logistics. Although a new train station is in the works, its capacity and frequency may not be sufficient to accommodate the anticipated 19,500 attendees leaving events at the arena. Additionally, bus journeys from the area into the city center can take up to an hour.
READ MORE: Bath Rugby’s Injury and Availability Update for Pau Clash: Charlie Ewels, Finn Russell, Orlando Bailey, Will Stuart
READ MORE: Town’s Derelict Flats Set to Be Replaced with 45 New Affordable Homes
YTL, the Malaysian company behind the arena’s construction, has pledged to address any potential issues, possibly through the implementation of an event parking scheme. Nonetheless, a local council member has suggested that Bristol City Council should conduct a parking assessment now to establish a baseline for future comparisons, as reported by BristolLive.
During a transport policy committee meeting on March 20, Conservative Councillor Mark Weston, representing Henbury and Brentry, expressed his concerns, stating, “[YTL] has committed that if there’s an impact by the arena on parking in the surrounding areas, Southmead, Henbury and Brentry, they have to put in mitigations in place to stop it, like an event parking scheme or something else. What I would hate for us to do is get the arena open and then go ‘oh, we haven’t monitored the parking’…”
Parking challenges are not new to the area, as Ashton Gate has also struggled with parking issues for stadium visitors and local residents, compounded by an inadequacy in public transportation. YTL’s recent announcement of plans to raise the arena’s capacity from 17,000 to 19,500 has sparked the need for the company to seek planning permission, including an assessment of its transportation impact on the surrounding areas.
Alex Hearn, director of economy of place, emphasized the need for increased engagement with the planning authority due to the proposed capacity boost, indicating that it will necessitate a new transport assessment.
The anticipated 2028 opening date for the arena has faced repeated postponements. The venue is set to be constructed within the Brabazon Hangars on the old Filton Airfield, which is also earmarked for a substantial housing development, including new schools and parks.