Local political leaders have approved £3m to start preparatory works for a new railway station to serve a “new town” and arena set to be built in North Bristol.
The new railway station — set to be called “North Filton” or “Brabazon” — would be the first on the Henbury line which is currently freight only. The new station would serve the Brabazon new town which is set to be built on the former Filton airfield, on the north side of the line in South Gloucestershire.
The Copenhagen-inspired new town was announced in London by the Malaysian Prime Minister in January. Speaking at the West of England Combined Authority committee on January 31, co-leader of South Gloucestershire Council Ian Boulton (Labour) said the new town would be “the UK’s largest brownfield development.”
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He said: “The development is a £2bn investment which represents a huge vote of confidence in the West of England region and the UK. Its vital therefore that we ensure the new railway station is delivered, and on time.”
The West of England Combined Authority committee — which is made up of Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the leaders of the three member councils — voted to approve £2.959m of spending to carry out pre-construction works for the new railway station, including procurement of materials, accelerating designs, and connecting to facilities. A full business case still needs to be submitted before the major work of building the station can begin.
The £3m in funding has come from the WECA’s £72.6m “Metrowest Phase 2” funding pot. This pot is supposed to have enough money left to fund both the North Filton/Brabazon and Henbury stations. But £37.5m has already been spent on the Ashley Down station, the enhanced half-hourly service from Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester, and the design for the Henbury and North Filton/Brabazon stations. A paper which went before the committee warned that project costs are expected to exceed the £72.6m funding.
Mr Boulton added: “Through the local growth plan we have a unique proposal to up the ante from proposals for a new town into proposals for a new city district in Brabazon, which will clearly require a new railway station as part of an integrated mass transit system for the city region. The North Filton station will be a vital component of this network.”
Kevin Guy, leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council said he “couldn’t agree more,” adding: “An integrated transport plan is long overdue and this is part of that. But it would be foolish of me not to plug the need for a Saltford train station at this particular point.”
Mr Norris said: “I certainly agree with you about the Saltford railway station and I understand that the local MP also agrees.” Alongside being Metro Mayor, he has been the local MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, which includes Saltford, since the 2024 general election.
While the plans for Metrowest Phase 2 progresses, the first phase of the project — which covers reopening the railway line to Portishead and Pill — remains in limbo. Funding has been committed locally and North Somerset Council has approved measures to allow construction to start this summer — but the new Labour government put its contribution to the project under review after the general election. Until the government gives the scheme the green light, the project is in limbo.