Promoter AEG Europe, owner of the London’s O2, has submitted plans for a 8,500-capacity arena in Edinburgh.
Spanning 18,500 square metres, the arena at Edinburgh Park, supports the regeneration of the Edinburgh Park area alongside master developers Parabola. The arena is expected to attract over 700,000 visitors, injecting £83.1m of spending back into the local economy each year. The development itself is planned to deliver £520m gross value add to the Edinburgh economy, employing 1,350 people.
Alex Hill, President and CEO of AEG Europe said, “We are thrilled to be progressing with our plans for a spectacular new arena for Edinburgh. The city has long been renowned as a destination for global culture and one of the world’s best for the arts and live entertainment. We’re excited to build on this reputation and bring world-class live music and entertainment to Edinburgh, as well as investing in the wider Edinburgh Park community through the creation of 1000+ employment opportunities.”
The application follows a series of in-person public consultation events, which took place in December 2023 and January 2024, where members of the project team and AEG Europe were on-site to hear from residents and update on intended plans.
Alistair Wood, Executive Vice President of Real Estate & Development for AEG Europe, said, “We’re delighted by the feedback and valuable insights we’ve received during the extensive consultation and public exhibition process. It’s been fantastic to see such strong support for our plans, and therefore we are hopeful for a swift and clear decision following our planning application.”
Wood continues, “If we were able to secure planning permission, our focus would then immediately turn to identifying a Building Contractor and Naming Rights partner to bring this exciting project to life on site.”
The company is hoping to receive planning permission by June 2024, with a view of appointing an external contractor to commence work thereafter.