News / Bristol
Will the long-awaited Bristol Arena ever be built?
Excitement among those hoping that Bristol’s arena will finally be built was sparked by the glimpse of an orange digger on Arena Island.
But the machinery was not there to start work on the site of long-awaited 12,000-capacity arena.
Instead, a city council spokeswoman confirmed that the machinery was the property of Network Rail, whose workers were using the land while the company carries out improvements to platforms at Temple Meads.
So we’ll have to wait a while longer before this is built:
Artist’s impression of Bristol Arena
Hopes that the new arena would be ready by 2018 were scuppered earlier this year when the council parted company with its appointed contractor after failing to reach an agreement on price.
Bristol City Council has already poured £9m into the major regeneration of the derelict area, but in April admitted the project could be scaled back, redesigned or scrapped altogether if the money needed to construct it continues to rise.
Mayor Marvin Rees has repeatedly pledged a commitment to bringing the arena plans to fruition and has said there is a “sense of urgency” around the regeneration project that it is hoped will bring jobs and breathe fresh life into a long-neglected part of the city.
Read more: ‘We see the arena as Bristol’s future’
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