Plans for Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter unanimously approved
Those behind the idea say it will have an "enormous positive impact" on Bristol
Last updated 6th Oct 2022
The creation of a so called "Sporting Quarter" by Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol will have an "enormous" positive impact on the city.
That's what those behind the idea say, after plans for a 3,626-seat indoor arena, hotel, shops, car park and apartment blocks, were approved by Bristol City Council's Planning Committee last night.
Councillors unanimously rubber stamped the proposal, put forward by Bristol Sport, which will now see around £200 million pounds invested into the area.
Also voted through, but by a much narrower margin, was outline planning permission for 510 homes on a greenfield site less than one kilometre from Ashton Gate, at Longmoor.
Though the Longmoor and Sporting Quarter plans were put forward as separate proposals, Bristol Sport had said they would not be able to proceed with the indoor arena development without the money generated from the Longmoor homes.
Martin Griffiths is the chairman of Ashton Gate.
“After four years of consultation and engagement it was great to see the support for these proposals," he said.
"To have the councillors approve both sets of planning applications for the Sporting Quarter and Longmoor will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for sport in this city."
We also spoke to Bristol Sport managing director Mark Kelly in City Hall, after the votes last night.
"We're incredibly pleased," he said.
"There was 100 plus supporters inside there and to get the approvals on both projects, (it's) amazing.
"It's been four years in the making behind the scenes and a lot of people put a lot of work into it and a lot of support's gone into it so (we're) delighted."
Once built, the arena will primarily become home to the Bristol Flyers basketball team, but will also be available to host other sporting events like boxing matches, darts tournaments and netball.
It is also being marketed as a major conference venue for business events.
“To be able to ensure the future financial sustainability of the Flyers Basketball team by providing them with their own home at BS3, and be able to expand on the incredible work that our community foundations already deliver is fantastic," Martin Giffiths said.
“The Sporting Quarter will be a catalyst for expansion and regeneration in south west Bristol.
"It will drive local jobs, the local supply chain and by having a hotel attached to the Sports and Conference Centre means we will be able to attract events to the city which would traditionally lose out to cities like Birmingham and Cardiff.
"The positive impact on the city will be enormous.”
Andreas Kapoulas is head coach of the Bristol Flyers and was also at the planning meeting last night.
"I've been involved in a lot of tense moments in sport, fourth quarters, very close games, overtimes and I have to say, that was a similar type of feeling there really," he said.
"It's just great to get it over the line."
Though the Sporting Quarter idea was met with little opposition, the housing plan for Longmoor is considered much more controversial.
The approval of outline planning permission means 510 homes can now be built on green belt land.
Normally national guidelines would suggest that cannot happen, but in this instance a majority of councillors on the committee decided that "very special circumstances" applied, considering the interconnected nature of the Longmoor plan with that of the sporting quarter.
One of those to speak at the meeting in opposition to the Longmoor development was green campaigner Danica Priest, who later tweeted in response to the decision, saying she felt sick.
"It was basically ‘legally & morally this application is inappropriate but a billionaire wants £25million," she posted.
"BCC (Bristol City Council): ‘well we absolutely have to give it to him!’"
It is worth noting that a legal advisor to the council was present at the meeting and explained at length his belief that the application is legally sound.
If you want to take a closer look at the plans for the Sporting Quarter, you can do so here.
More about the Longmoor development is available here.
Bristol Sport now plans to sell the land at Longmoor to a developer and use the money to help build the Sporting Quarter.
They hope to begin work in later Summer 2023, initially on the Sports and Convention Centre and the hotel.