YTL is committed to delivering an arena for Bristol which will have a positive impact on the wider community.
By putting people at the heart of everything we do we will ensure that the new live entertainment complex is both financially and environmentally sustainable and becomes a green community asset.
YTL Arena will be net zero carbon from day one and the UK’s first to operate with no fossil fuels. It will operate a zero waste to landfill policy and will fully support fans and artists to reduce their impact on the environment.
We have worked closely with sustainability specialists Hoare Lea and sought an independent assessment from Professor Jim Longhurst, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Professor of Environmental Science at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Professor Longhurst is the Director and Chair-elect of the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges. He is also a Director and former Chair of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership.
He has reviewed both internal documents such as our sustainability charter and also documents submitted as part of our planning application, and is supportive of our aims and aspirations.
Professor Longhurst said: ‘Overall, the planning document set provides a detailed and comprehensive argument for the development whilst the internal document set provide further context to illustrate the thinking and development processes undertaken by YTL and its consultants.
‘He added: ‘The energy part of the strategy is impressive in its scope and ambition for air source heat pumps, PV arrays and battery storage. When operational it will provide an efficient and effective energy supply system. Provision to connect to a district heat network is also noted. The resultant Environmental Statement is detailed and comprehensive and is, in my opinion, completed to a high professional standard.
Aligned to United Nations sustainability goals
Our sustainability charter addresses all 17 of the UN’s sustainability development goals. Included in our plans are energy efficiency measures such as cladding to ensure thermal and acoustic efficiencies. An air source heat pumps will provide ambient heating and cooling, while LED lighting will be used throughout the complex, linked back to an intelligent building management system.
Rainwater harvesting will reduce our water consumption by more than 70% and solar panels on the roof along with battery storage will allow us to generate enough energy to make the building energy neutral. There will be no gas on site.
By repurposing the Brabazon hangars, the former home of Concorde, we will save approximately 18,600 tonnes CO2 from being emitted compared to building a completely new structure. The concrete floor, which supported every UK built Concorde, will be retained as the event floor where fans will be able to dance. From day one the YTL Arena Complex will be carbon neutral.
Thinking global, acting local
YTL Arena will be at the heart of the local community. By sourcing more than 75% of our products and services locally we aim to share our success with the wider community and to drive business to local organisations, while also ensuring that all that is great about Bristol is celebrated. The complex will create 500 jobs with a starting salary of the living wage and offer apprenticeships and work experience opportunities.
A community stage will offer local groups the chance to showcase their talents, and our community officer will collaborate with city partners to use the power of music and entertainment for greater good.
YTL Arena will attract 1.4m visitors to the city region generating in excess of 300,000 more overnight stays as fans will choose to stay over in city hotels adding £60m per year to the city’s tourism economy.
Supporting music industry’s push to ‘Go Green’
The live entertainment industry as a whole is recognising that it is not sustainable as it operates today. But there is already work being undertaken to find sustainable solutions, including how venues can support the touring industry to have a positive impact on the environment. The YTL Arena team are already engaged in that process supporting areas that we cannot control ourselves.
American band Maroon 5 have been working to make their tours more sustainable since 2007 and more recently Shawn Mendes, P!nk, Dave Matthews Band, Fleetwood Mac, and The 1975 are all supporting a greener approach.
For Billie Eilish’s upcoming 2020 world tour, venues are required to have water refill stations, which is expected to eliminate over 35,000 single-use water bottles from her shows. This will be standard practice at YTL Arena.
YTL Arena will support tours being sustainable from day one, with zero waste to landfill, and getting our transport management right is another big step.
We will actively encourage our visitors to choose sustainable forms of travel through our messaging and ticketing. We will also offer the option of carbon offsetting for those who opt to travel by car. A new train station connecting the site to Temple Meads in 15 minutes, along with a new Metrobus service linking north and south Bristol will both be up and running in 2021.
Managing Director of YTL Arena, Andrew Billingham said: “We are totally committed to making sure that we have a positive impact on the region. We take this responsibility very seriously and are working diligently to align ourselves with the UN’s sustainable development goals, local policies and the One City approach which brings together a huge range of sector partners within Bristol to share an aim to create a fair, healthy and sustainable city. A city of hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success.
He added: ”Our plans have already involved consulting with some of the industry’s most senior professionals supporting musicians’ green touring as the music industry altogether is evolving to reduce its environmental impact. We want artists and bands to think of Bristol leading the way as a sustainable city, building on the great work that has continued since Bristol was European Green Capital in 2015.”