Grant Associates on design team for proposed YTL Arena in Bristol

YTL has announced the design team for its plan to deliver an arena for Bristol in the historic Brabazon hangars.

The company has selected architect Grimshaw, working in partnership with Manica Architecture and landscape architect Grant Associates, for the project to create an arena by repurposing the Brabazon aircraft hangars at the former Filton Airfield.

YTL’s vision is for an arena capable of housing up to 17,000 people that puts Bristol on the world map for hosting large-scale events, while also celebrating the site’s place in aviation history.

Following the announcement of the design team, the aim is to submit a full planning application for the YTL Arena to Bristol City Council, in the coming months.

The arena forms part of a wider transformation of the local area. The hangars sit on the edge of Filton Airfield, which is now being transformed into Brabazon, a thriving new neighbourhood for Bristol. The 380-acre site will become a new urban community, with more than 2,600 homes, creative workplaces and a vibrant town centre set amongst public squares and parkland.

Grant Associates has been involved with the creation of Brabazon since 2015. The practice worked closely with architect Allies and Morrison on the Brabazon masterplan and developed the overall landscape strategy for the scheme, one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK.

Situated five miles from Bristol city centre, Filton Airfield saw the development of Concorde and the Bristol Brabazon. The existing The existing Aerospace Bristol Museum, which is now home of Concorde and the aero collection, and a listed hangar will all remain part of the site.

Planning approval to deliver Brabazon’s first 278 new homes was awarded in March 2019. Construction of the scheme, which was designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios working in partnership with Grant Associates, is due to start later this year.

“It’s hugely exciting to continue our involvement with YTL, helping to shape proposals for a world-class venue for Bristol. Our aim is to balance this large flexible event space, and the need to manage large flows of people, with more active, intimate human-scaled spaces that welcome people - and nature - into the heart of the development.” 

"We are very excited to announce our design team. This represents a very positive step forward for us. We are now working up our firm proposals to repurpose the Brabazon hangars to create a visionary arena that will put Bristol on the world stage."

“We have secured an exceptional team to drive the arena project through the planning process. We are now focused on delivering a design which respects the rich heritage of the site, ensuring the YTL Arena becomes a destination Bristol can be proud of.”