Changes needed due to bridges being built for cancelled arena

They have become known as the ‘bridges to nowhere’, both built to connect to an arena that never came.

Brock’s Bridge and St Philip’s Footbridge were envisaged to enable concertgoers to access Arena Island, now known as Temple Island.

But in 2018, against a backdrop of vocal opposition to scrapping the plans, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said that he would not subject public money to “huge risk” by pressing ahead with an arena at this location.

So ever since then, the bridges to nowhere have remained unused and increasingly blighted by graffiti as alternative plans take shape for Temple Island.

Planning application documents show that both bridges are causing headaches for Bristol City Council because of their original purpose.

Brock’s Bridge featured in CGIs for when an arena was going to be built on Arena Island – image: Bristol City Council

An artist’s impression of the approach for concertgoers from St Philip’s Footbridge – image: Populous Feilden Clegg Bradley

St Philip’s Footbridge today – photo: Martin Booth

The 63-metre long Brock’s Bridge – originally known as Arena Island Bridge – was funded by an £11m investment from Homes England.

When it was installed in 2015, it became the first newly built road bridge across the River Avon for 100 years, but it has remained fenced off since its opening.

St Philip’s Footbridge is described by its Buckinghamshire-based Knight Architects as having “a holistic architectural, functional and structural approach results in a bridge that is compact and clearly legible for users while being architecturally distinctive”.

You can cross the £3m bridge over the River Avon, get to the other side but proceed no further than a metal cage.

The 50m-long and 4m-wide forked bridge was built in 2019 and is a particularly impressive piece of engineering, specially designed to accommodate the significant height difference between the two riverbanks.

St Philip’s Footbridge connects the riverside path to the former Arena Island – photo: Martin Booth

Planning documents reveal that “structural fill will be laid wherever it is required across Temple Island to raise the existing ground level to reflect the level of the existing Brock’s Bridge and St. Philip’s footbridge”.

The documents add: “These bridges were planned, designed, and installed for the previous arena scheme and there is a significant level difference between current ground levels and a proposed development ground level.

“The structural fill will be provided to a level to enable formation of a working platform for the construction of a mixed-use scheme.

“Currently the final finished ground level is currently unknown as the masterplan for the Temple Island development has not been finalised.

“However to progress this Earthworks Strategy and associated modelling, the level of +14.0m OD within a tolerance range +/- 50mm has been assumed across the Site following discussion and agreement with L&G.”

A previously released artist’s impression of Legal & General’s plans for Temple Island, showing Brock’s Bridge and St Philip’s Footbridge – image: Legal & General

What might in different circumstances have been the site of Bristol’s long-awaited arena could now become “a vibrant new urban district”.

Legal & General (L&G) has previously agreed to invest £350m to transform the disused site near Temple Meads, previously known as Arena Island but now called Temple Island.

In return, Bristol City Council will spend £32m getting the derelict plot ready, including sorting contamination issues, before leasing Temple Island to the asset management firm for 250 years.

The council will also guarantee L&G rent on the office space for 40 years, an offer deemed “necessary” by mayor Marvin Rees to secure the investment.

L&G’s latest plans for Temple Island are for 500 new homes, office space for up to 2,000 people, and a hotel and conference centre.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• ‘Huge opportunity’ to shape future of Temple Island
• Council blunder reveals hidden information about Temple Island deal
• 10 Questions: Marvin Rees – ‘I’m Bristol’s most transparent person’

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