| Tower blocks to be built on site once set aside for Bristol arena Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:14, 2nd April 2026 |     |
From the BBC:
Flats to be built on site once set aside for arena
One of the tower blocks will be up to 19-storeys tall
Plans to build numerous tower blocks on land once earmarked for a 20,000-seat arena have been approved.
The new estate, which includes 520 flats and offices, will be built near Bristol Temple Meads railway station, on land between the River Avon and A4 Bath Road.
An indoor arena was previously planned for the site before it was abandoned in 2018, with former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees deciding to build it in Filton instead.
The proposals by Legal and General were approved by Bristol City Council on Wednesday.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the major finance company's plans also include a riverside footpath, a play area, bars, shops and a hotel. The flats will be split over four blocks, with the tallest reaching up to 19 storeys. The firm said the scheme would take a decade to build.
Ben Denton, head of strategy at Legal and General, said: "L&G will be the long-term owner and operator of the commercial space, the market-rented homes and the affordable homes on the site." He said 20% of the homes will be affordable, partly paid for by a government grant from Homes England.
The plans also include bars, shops and a hotel
Speaking at the meeting, Kim Hicks, from Bristol Civic Society, said the tower blocks "will be depressing to look at and live and work among, especially in dull and damp weather".
"This development requires a major redesign that results in a fresh and welcoming approach to Bristol, and is keeping with the brightness of Temple Meads. It should not be a grim reminder of the dirty, grimy, smoke-stained buildings of industrial Britain," she added.
The council's transport experts also expressed concerns about the impact on traffic on Bath Road, the main route in and out of the city centre for south Bristol.
Bristol's new arena, called Aviva Arena, will built in Filton instead
However a council report said the project will deliver "significant economic benefits" for the city including "approximately 3,000 full-time jobs".
The report said: "The development proposed complies with this policy and there are no material considerations to outweigh this compliance."
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of approving the plans.
Legal and General said their plans would contribute to the wider regeneration of Temple Quarter, the area around Temple Meads and St Philips Marsh.
The development was backed by the University of Bristol, which said the new buildings would help cement their new Enterprise Campus, which is being built next to the site.
One of the tower blocks will be up to 19-storeys tall
Plans to build numerous tower blocks on land once earmarked for a 20,000-seat arena have been approved.
The new estate, which includes 520 flats and offices, will be built near Bristol Temple Meads railway station, on land between the River Avon and A4 Bath Road.
An indoor arena was previously planned for the site before it was abandoned in 2018, with former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees deciding to build it in Filton instead.
The proposals by Legal and General were approved by Bristol City Council on Wednesday.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the major finance company's plans also include a riverside footpath, a play area, bars, shops and a hotel. The flats will be split over four blocks, with the tallest reaching up to 19 storeys. The firm said the scheme would take a decade to build.
Ben Denton, head of strategy at Legal and General, said: "L&G will be the long-term owner and operator of the commercial space, the market-rented homes and the affordable homes on the site." He said 20% of the homes will be affordable, partly paid for by a government grant from Homes England.
The plans also include bars, shops and a hotel
Speaking at the meeting, Kim Hicks, from Bristol Civic Society, said the tower blocks "will be depressing to look at and live and work among, especially in dull and damp weather".
"This development requires a major redesign that results in a fresh and welcoming approach to Bristol, and is keeping with the brightness of Temple Meads. It should not be a grim reminder of the dirty, grimy, smoke-stained buildings of industrial Britain," she added.
The council's transport experts also expressed concerns about the impact on traffic on Bath Road, the main route in and out of the city centre for south Bristol.
Bristol's new arena, called Aviva Arena, will built in Filton instead
However a council report said the project will deliver "significant economic benefits" for the city including "approximately 3,000 full-time jobs".
The report said: "The development proposed complies with this policy and there are no material considerations to outweigh this compliance."
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of approving the plans.
Legal and General said their plans would contribute to the wider regeneration of Temple Quarter, the area around Temple Meads and St Philips Marsh.
The development was backed by the University of Bristol, which said the new buildings would help cement their new Enterprise Campus, which is being built next to the site.
