Could this be the new Bristol Arena location?

Down a long, winding private road, flanked by high wire fences bordering the old Filton airfield stands the historic Brabazon Hangar.

The vast, grey curved exterior of the heritage building is an important piece of Bristol’s aviation heritage – elements of which are documented inside.

It is also the subject of widespread speculation as a possible site for the city’s long-awaited 12,000 capacity arena.

Could this become Bristol’s new arena?

Of course, the multi-million pound project has long been anticipated as part of the Temple Quarter regeneration plan, an £11.3m bridge is already in place, leading to Arena Island and work is currently underway to construct a footbridge from St Philip’s.

But mayor Marvin Rees put the brakes on further developments at the city centre site in November 2017 when he expanded the scope of possible locations and commissioned a ‘value for money’ assessment.

This study will influence the final plans and council cabinet members are due to discuss its findings and agree the next steps for the future of the arena at a meeting on January 23.

Visual of how the Bristol Arena may look, Populous Arena Team.jpg

Rees has given little indication of the alternative locations under consideration, but there has been speculation that the Brabazon Hangar on the outskirts of Bristol could be a strong contender.

Peter Abraham, a Tory councillor for Stoke Bishop, has thrown his weight behind regenerating the historic aviation building, arguing it is the time to “completely reimagine” the conception and location for the 12,000-capacity venue.

The hangar was once used as an assembly hall in the construction of Concorde, but has been used for storage and distribution since 2012.

Type 170 Bristol Freighter returns back to its home at the old Filton airfield

It is currently being used as a home for one of the last remaining Type 170 Bristol Freighters, shipped back from New Zealand. Bristol24/7 seized the chance to scope out the location.

Vast is an appropriate word for the cavernous building with its exposed metal frameworks.

A bracing cold breeze gusts through the huge metal doors, daylight creeps in through window panels set high in the walls and ceiling. The sheer scale of the interior dwarfs the freighter and a colourful collection of vehicles, including a historic green double decker bus and small aircrafts, stored within.

Currently inaccessible to the public, it is hard to imagine this windswept site, fringed by residential estates, becoming the location of Bristol’s arena.

The site lies just within the Bristol North West constituency and MP Darren Jones is remaining open-minded about the possible relocation of the arena, but says it would depend on upgraded transport networks.

“Bristol will be getting its arena,” Jones told Bristol24/7. “How and where needs to be decided based on value for money, and the return on that investment in creating future value for the city.

“I would welcome the arena in North Bristol on the basis that it unlocks the funding we require to upgrade our roads, rail and bus networks. It’s clear the Government won’t be giving us this investment for a generation, so if the arena speeds this up then I’d welcome the move.

“But what I can’t have is an arena in North Bristol with no transport upgrades. That won’t be acceptable to me or my constituents.”

Others, including former mayor George Ferguson, maintain the new venue must remain in the heart of the city.

Arena Island was absent from the mayor’s investment document

Indeed, the council has already poured £9m into developing the city centre site, yet the plans were noticeably absent from the investment document that Rees took to China in December.

Speaking in November, the mayor said: “Nothing is off the table because one way or another this city is going to get an arena it can afford.”

Where this will be located could finally be revealed by the end of the month.

Read more: Bristol Arena could have to find new location