Construction has officially begun on the

at

, marking a major milestone in the regeneration of the Brabazon New Town development in North Bristol, South Gloucestershire. The start of works follows the completion of demolition and deconstruction at the former aircraft hangars.

The transformation of the historic Filton Airfield site is being delivered by

. The project will see the iconic Brabazon Hangars converted into a state-of-the-art arena complex, incorporating interlinked exhibition and conference facilities. The venue is currently scheduled to open by the end of 2028.

The proposed indoor arena has been designed with a maximum capacity of 20,000, positioning it among the UK’s largest live entertainment venues. However, current planning consent allows for an audience of just over 17,000, with the flexibility to apply for increased capacity in the future.

Filton Airfield operated as a private airport from 1911 until its closure in 2018 and holds a significant place in British aviation history. The 1940s-era Brabazon Hangars are widely recognised as the birthplace of both the Bristol Brabazon airliner and the supersonic

, underscoring the heritage value of the site.

Based in Bath,

comprises nine companies operating across water, engineering, property and entertainment. The group describes a shared commitment to delivering long-term, high-quality developments.

Following the demolition phase, the site has undergone a significant transformation. Project leaders state that construction is now progressing at pace, with enabling works under way and the 2028 completion target firmly in sight.

The arena complex will be linked to the wider Brabazon neighbourhood—recently backed by the UK Government as one of the country’s flagship new towns—via a new accessible bridge. Under the current plans, the left-hand hangar will house the main entertainment arena, while the right-hand structure will accommodate a dedicated conference and exhibition centre.

“It’s important that we have a venue that can compete right at the top with other cities,” said Andrew Billingham, head of YTL Arena Bristol. “From a design perspective, we’ve ensured we can achieve the best and biggest capacity possible, which is 20,000. That puts us firmly in the top tier, on a level with the 20,000-capacity

. While we currently have planning permission for just over 17,000—granted in 2020—it’s vital that the design allows us to expand to 20,000 should we seek additional consent in the future. That flexibility ensures we can compete with the largest cities.”