Demolition contractor John F Hunt has completed its work stripping back hangars at the former Filton Airfield in north Bristol, enabling area construction to begin.
The central hangar has been stripped back to its original 1940s steel frame, while the iconic Esavian sliding hangar doors have been removed, creating a view straight through the vast building that was the birthplace of Concorde.
Preparations are also under way to remove seven major structural trusses and the roof to enable the construction of the new seating bowl.
Surrounding outer buildings have already been demolished, clearing the way for the next phase of development, including a new bridge connecting the arena complex with the rest of the Brabazon new town development.
Main contractor is YTL Construction UK, incorporated in 2023 as a subsidiary of Malaysian-owned YTL Land & Property, which is developing the old airfield.
YTL Construction UK chief executive is John Thompson, who joined in November 2024 after 17 years with Wessex Water, latterly as chief operating officer. On the progress at Brabazon, he said: “Demolishing parts of the hangar has been a delicate operation, as we know how important it is to preserve its structure both for its legacy as the birthplace of Concorde and its bright new future. The project team and I are delighted to be delivering this exciting new venue, which promises to put Bristol on the world stage.”
The 20,000-capacity YTL Arena is expected to open in 2028.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
