By Sharen Kaur
KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Corp Bhd is making headlines in the United Kingdom (UK), with its flagship Brabazon development in Bristol named one of 12 sites chosen for the UK government's New Towns Taskforce – a vision to build the next generation of modern, sustainable communities.
Brabazon is the UK's largest privately funded, single-developer brownfield project. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim formally launched the project in January this year.
Located on a 153.8-hectare (ha) site at the former Filton Airfield in North Bristol, which YTL acquired from BAE Systems in 2015, the project is being developed by YTL UK Group.
Its inclusion in the government's new towns list underscores Brabazon's role as a national model for integrated urban design – blending homes, jobs, transport, and culture into a vibrant, sustainable community.
YTL Corp executive chairman Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said the recognition paves the way for Brabazon to receive government support for key transport infrastructure, unlocking its full growth potential.
"At present planning allows for 6,500 homes, but with the new town designation it could deliver up to 25,000, centred around a 20,000-capacity concert venue in one of the former aircraft hangers.
"The gross development value of this precious property is around £6.5 billion (close to RM37 billion). It will create many jobs and be a leaven to much economic activity with its positive multiplier effects," Yeoh said in a brief note to the Malaysian press.
Anchored in the West of England's £53.7 billion (RM303.3 billion) economy – one of Britain's strongest and most highly employed regions – Brabazon sits at the heart of an advanced engineering hub that includes industry giants such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GKN.
The development is expected to generate 30,000 jobs and contribute £5 billion (RM28.25 billion) in socio-economic value to the region.
YTL has reportedly invested £400 million (RM2.26 billion) into the project, with hundreds of new homes completed and over 350 occupied.
According to Sebastian Loyn, head of planning and development at YTL UK, homes are being sold at a premium compared with other local new builds, estimated at about £100,000 (RM565,035) more on average.
A four-bedroom mid-terrace in the Hangar District is reserved at £560,000 (RM3.164 million); a two-bedroom end of terrace in the Heritage District is listed at £440,000 (RM2.49 million). The remaining flats on sale at The Dials range from £317,000 (RM1.791 million) to £365,000 (RM2.062 million).
Over 1,700 homes have been earmarked as affordable, a figure that may rise now Brabazon has secured new town status.
The space is one of the advantages of building on a disused airfield, apart from heritage: unlike some other new towns, planners will not have to destroy or amalgamate existing settlements, allowing them to design it virtually from scratch.
Additionally, over £100 million (over RM565 million) is being invested to enhance connectivity, including a new railway station linking Brabazon to Bristol Temple Meads in under 15 minutes.
Once fully developed, Brabazon will feature a 20,000-capacity live entertainment arena, over 3.6 million sq ft of commercial space, and the largest new public park in South West England in half a century – the 6.07-hectare Brabazon Park.
YTL is currently in talks with corporate sponsors for the new arena, which is scheduled to open in 2028. The venue forms the centrepiece of a wider entertainment district featuring high-rise hotels, student accommodation, and an enterprise campus – a vision reminiscent of London's Greenwich Peninsula transformation around the O2 Arena.
Brabazon Park, spanning 6.07 hectares and complete with a scenic lake, will become the largest new urban park in the region in 50 years.
YTL has also secured planning approval for the first landmark Grade A office building at Brabazon, addressing a shortage of new commercial space in Bristol city centre. The eight-storey building will offer premium office facilities and is designed to meet top-tier sustainability standards, targeting an EPC A rating, BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5-Star, and WiredScore Platinum certifications for digital connectivity.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/property/2025/10/1290450/ytl-corps-rm37bil-brabazon-project-named-among-uks-next-gen-new-towns
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