Royal Mail says new Filton Airfield venue could delay postal deliveries in Bristol and beyond

Royal Mail has warned that any traffic caused by a new attraction in Filton could delay post across the “whole region”.

YTL Developments is seeking planning permission to build the festival-style ‘village’ on the former airfield near Bristol, with outdoor entertainment, tipi restaurants, retail stalls and a bar with roof terrace.

The developer, which is also behind Bristol Arena and the huge Brabazon housing estate nearby, hopes to open the so-called ‘Hangout’ in summer and operate it over the next three years until the arena is ready.

However, Royal Mail has now lodged a planning objection with South Gloucestershire Council, fearing that it will increase congestion along the A38 and affect its operation at Bristol Mail Centre.

It said it “does not wish to prevent” the venue, but stressed the need for “measures to protect Bristol Mail Centre” before it is allowed to open, making a list of demands to address its concerns.

YTL said it has been in discussion with Royal Mail, and that the Hangout represents only 17 per cent of the size of retail development that the council has already permitted as part of the Arena and Brabazon consent.

‘Highest operational importance’

The mail centre borders the application site and employs 1,000 people, handling 18 million items of mail each week across the BS, BA, TA and GL postcodes as well as air mail for East Midlands Airport.

Royal Mail’s five-page objection states: “Royal Mail vehicles use all of the main roads that may potentially be affected by additional traffic generated by the construction and operation of the [Hangout].

“Royal Mail’s delivery targets are extremely time critical and even minor delays to vehicle movements to and from operational sites can result in these targets not being met.

“Delays affecting a major hub such as the Bristol Mail Centre will have a knock on effect over the whole of the region.”

It describes the centre as a facility of the “highest operational importance” where “activity levels are increasing.

The Hangout would be located on a corner of the airfield next to Aerospace Bristol, accessed via the Lidl exit off the Concorde Roundabout.

Royal Mail said the A38 and Gypsy Patch Lane were already “over capacity and congested” at peak times prior to lockdown, and that any additional delays would have a “serious negative impact on Royal Mail’s business”.

Security breach during Massive Attack gig

It revealed that during the Massive Attack gigs on the former airfield in 2019, there were a “number of adverse impacts on the operation of Bristol Mail Centre”.

This included, it claimed, heavy congestion that delayed Royal Mail vehicles, “large numbers of un-managed pedestrians”, and even the “scaling of security fences by pedestrians attending the event”.

Noise, litter, alcohol consumption and disturbance were also cited as impacts of the gigs that it wanted to avoid a repeat of.

The Massive Attack gigs had a capacity of 14,000 each night, while the projected attendance at the Hangout is estimated to be 10,300 per month.

Royal Mail has set out eight demands that it wants YTL to agree to if the attraction goes ahead.

This includes that it will be fully briefed and consulted on the construction and traffic management plans, and to arrange “enhanced security presence during events to prevent unauthorised access into the mail centre”.

Full response from YTL

As part of its planning application YTL had already submitted a transport assessment, access plan and car parking plan to manage visitor movements.

Its retail statement says the Hangout has been “designed to begin to activate Brabazon as a destination and showcase what can be achieved over the long term” to benefit the local community.

A spokesperson for YTL noted the devastating impact of the coronavirus lockdowns on hospitality businesses, and said the industry is in “desperate need of a boost”.

The statement added: “Our motivation for applying for permission to host ‘the Hangout’, an outdoor pop-up food and drinks village with an events space, is to help support our local community and provide a fun, temporary venue over the next three years.

“We anticipate most of the visitors will be based locally, and will arrive either on foot or by public transport, so we have applied for a 500 capacity car park to accommodate those travelling from further afield.”

YTL noted how it has already secured planning consent for the much larger Arena and Brabazon developments on the airfield, which include food, drink, retail and events space.

‘No greater impact than approved’

It said in comparison, the Hangout would take up only 17 per cent of that space for the same use.

The spokesperson added: “The temporary application falls significantly below the thresholds already established in the Airfield and Arena consents and will therefore have no greater impact than that already tested and approved.

“As it is a temporary application it would be replaced with permanent facilities at the Arena and Brabazon once they are delivered.

“As good neighbours, we have been in communication with local organisations and businesses, including Royal Mail, and will continue to do so.”