Detailed plans for a large public square next to the proposed new railway station that will serve Bristol Arena and the giant Brabazon neighbourhood have been unveiled.
Developers YTL have submitted a planning application to South Gloucestershire Council for an area called Station Square at the former Filton Airfield. It will be directly north of North Filton railway station when it opens.
In planning documents, the Malaysian firm said: “The proposal will act as flexible open space. On non-arena event days local and seasonal markets will have the opportunity and space to be hosted. On arena event days, adequate space has been included within the square to hold up to 1,500 people in queuing lanes for those hoping to use the North Filton station.
“In the context of the arena, a variety of permanent and temporary ‘pop-up’ uses will be available to provide a vibrant and welcoming approach from the station to the Arena bridge. This will include a variety of food and drink offers and other leisure opportunities.”
Near the centre of the proposed 4,120sqm square is a Grade II-listed, World War II pillbox. YTL said it was currently concealed by overgrown shrubbery and that this would be removed and the brick structure given pride of place in a new landscaped garden where the public could see and learn about it.
It said: “This proposal will enhance the setting of the listed building in comparison to the existing positioning and will also help with the conservation of this structure.”
Station Square would include 100 cycle parking spaces, with construction scheduled to start in September 2027 and be finished in early 2028.
South Gloucestershire Council, which granted outline planning permission for 6,500 homes – more than twice as many as the original proposals – in February last year, has asked Bristol City Council to comment on the plans.
The latest ‘reserved matters’ application for the square includes much more detail but would still need to be approved. The vast proposed estate would also have new schools, offices, cafes, restaurants, laboratories and a research campus.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporter