Costs on stalled 拢123.5m scheme set to go up
The future of Bristol鈥檚 proposed 拢123.5m, 12,000-capacity arena has been thrown into doubt, despite the city council鈥檚 claims that a pause in its development should not be seen as a 鈥渂ackward step鈥�.
Bristol council has ordered accountants KPMG to 鈥渆xpand鈥� the scope of a review the firm is already conducting into the project鈥檚 value for money proposition, with its remit extend to examine the venue鈥檚 design and location, as well possibilities for private cash to support the scheme.
KPMG is expected to file its report next month, with a council decision on how to move the project forward due in January.
Contractor Buckingham, which had first been shortlisted for the job in 2015 and replaced Bouygues at the beginning of this year, had given the council a quote to build the arena, but its work on the scheme is now on hold until KPMG鈥檚 report has been assessed by the council.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said such a pause during the pre-construction phase was 鈥渘ot unusual鈥� and Buckingham had 鈥渄one a good job鈥�.
But Rees said that while he was 鈥�100% committed鈥� to the arena, which was due to open to the public in 2020, the council could not commit to the existing Populous and Feilden Clegg Bradley design on the proposed site 鈥� Arena Island 鈥� 鈥渁t any cost鈥�.
The current cost estimate of 拢123.5m, itself up from an earlier figure of 拢90m, was 鈥渉ighly likely鈥� to rise further, and rise significantly, the council said. It declined to publish a precise number, claiming it was 鈥渃ommercially sensitive and remains confidential鈥�.
The arena鈥檚 build cost was a challenge which the council needed to deal with, Rees said. 鈥淚鈥檝e asked our consultants KPMG to consider every avenue. This includes raising private investment, thinking about other sites and considering designs which could be delivered within budget.
鈥淣othing is off the table because one way or another this city is going to get an arena it can afford.鈥�
The venue鈥檚 opening date of 2020 still held, the council said, although this would depend on options recommended by KPMG, 鈥渁nd what future decisions are made鈥�.
The plan to build the Bristol Arena has been beset with problems, with several firms, including Sir Robert McAlpine and Laing O鈥橰ourke, all walking away from the project in early 2016.
Buckingham has been contacted for comment.
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