• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday January 16 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Malaysian prime minister formally launches new town on edge of Bristol

A £2 billion new town development on the edge of Bristol has been formally launched by the prime minister of Malaysia.

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with senior members of the government including prime minister Keir Starmer yesterday (Wednesday) – and the 380-acre Brabazon development in Filton, north of Bristol, was at the top of the agenda.

The former airfield is being developed by Malaysian firm YTL and will see 6,500 homes built, as well as a 19,000 capacity indoor arena, conferencing and exhibition space in the former hangars in which the Brabazon aircraft was built.

The new town – inspired by Copenhagen – is being touted as the most sustainable new town in the UK and will be one of the largest UK brownfield regeneration schemes in the UK.

It will have three new schools, office space, advanced manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and a 15-acre new park.

Public transport links including a new railway station are being funded by the UK.

YTL says the development will create 30,000 jobs. The £2 billion Brabazon investment is part of a £4 billion Malaysian government investment into YTL’s UK businesses over the next five years.

Most residential accommodation will be high-rise apartments, but the development will include a 15-acre park

The UK government’s business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “This investment is incredible news for the UK and will create a generational transformation for North Bristol, delivering infrastructure, new schools and creating thousands of new homes and jobs in the region.

“By creating the right conditions and giving investors the confidence they need to make big investments in Britain, our Plan for Change is delivering economic growth and showing the power of investment to transform our cities, and give working people the security they deserve.”

West of England metro mayor Dan Norris, who was part of the UK delegation, said: “The West of England is continuing to secure major investment, to create new jobs and economic growth now and over coming years.

“An even smoother trading relationship with Malaysia will only help accelerate plans for Bristol’s long-awaited arena, as well as more new homes on the former Filton Airfield.

“YTL remains committed to investing in our part of the world, and their latest £2 billion plans will be a further real boost for the region – delivering more than 30,000 jobs.

“My Mayoral Combined Authority supports building homes in the right place with the right infrastructure. The new train station will be crucial for helping people get to the UK’s third largest arena and get around the West of England.”

Latest: Work starts on new Brabazon train station as YTL confirms Arena opening date