Bristol Arena: The story so far and what to expect in 2021 | Bristol Live

YTL reached a milestone in 2020 after securing planning permission for the landmark venue

Almost 18 years have sped by since plans for Bristol Arena were first unveiled.

The announcement in March 2003 began a long and complex saga, fraught with political arguments and a loss of public trust that the music and events venue will ever be built.

Despite the uncertainties that the coronavirus pandemic has created, a huge milestone was achieved this year as Malaysian investment firm YTL secured planning permission for the arena.

The landmark will have capacity for 17,080 people, re-purposing the iconic Brabazan hangars at the former Filton Airfield and becoming the third largest arena in the UK.

2021 should also be a big year for the arena, with building works expected to start in the summer.

Developer YTL confirmed in October that it is still on track to open the arena in 2023, with construction due to commence in "mid 2021".

Meanwhile Brabazon, the huge neighbourhood being built near the arena by YTL Developments, is already under construction.

The estate will eventually accommodate 2,675 homes, 62 acres of employment space, three new schools, a public park, health centre and retail and leisure facilities, as well as a new North Filton railway station and a dedicated MetroBus.

The first cluster of 302 homes should be first to be completed next year, with marketing already under way for the most expensive homes and sales for smaller homes expected to launch in early 2021.

YTL has previously said it intends to invest £2billion into the arena and the Brabazon neighbourhood.

The location of the arena remains hugely controversial, with many Bristol residents feeling it should have been built in the city centre as initially planned.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees ruled out the original Temple Island location in September 2018, following an assessment of the site's value for money.

It was scrapped despite the council having already spent £12m on clearing and preparing the so-called Arena Island.

Former Bristol Mayor George Ferguson played a key role in identifying the site and the deal was weeks away from being signed back in 2016.

A row over a lack of car parking spaces delayed the project and meant Mr Ferguson could not firm up the contract before the mayoral election that year.

An arena was one of the 10 things Bristolians said they wanted to see built in their city by 2025, in a Bristol Live poll earlier this year.

Despite long-held doubts permeating the debate about its future, the progress is certainly looking more promising than it was this time last year.

Scroll down the timeline below for a reminder of how the saga unfolded:

You can follow the latest news about Bristol Arena on our dedicated page here.