News / News Wire
End in sight for Bristol’s worst eyesore?
One of Bristol’s worst eyesores could soon be purchased by the city council as part of plans for the development of the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
Funding proposals will go before cabinet next week that if approved could progress the development of Arena Island and allow the council to potentially acquire the derelict former Royal Mail sorting office site at Cattle Market Road.
A grant of £5.4 million, allocated by the Department of Communities and Local Government, could be used to support the transfer of Arena Island from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to the city council.
This would allow funding already agreed to acquire Arena Island to be used to support a potential purchase of the former sorting office.
Negotiations could then continue with the current owner of the Cattle Market Road site and could see it integrated into plans for the redevelopment of the enterprise zone.
Mayor George Ferguson said: “The transfer of Arena Island to the council is a vital step in the development of the much needed 12,000 capacity venue for the region and follows the recent announcement of the winning design team for the arena.
“If these proposals are approved then it could lead to council funds, previously allocated to buy Arena Island being redeployed to acquire the former Royal Mail sorting office.
“This will hopefully mean that this key enterprise zone site and eyesore, that has lain derelict for over 17 years, can at long last be redeveloped.”