Bristol’s Brabazon development area has been hailed as “a rare opportunity to reimagine how best to live, work and play in today’s world” as its Malaysian owner officially pledged a £2bn investment in the site.
Executive chairman of YTL Group Francis Yeoh Sock Ping said the scheme, pictured, on the former Filton Airfield was taking shape “whilst ensuring that sustainability is built into the development from conceptualisation”. 
The 380-acre site – the South West’s largest brownfield development and one of the largest in the UK – was acquired by YTL Power, part of the giant YTL conglomerate, in 2016
YTL, Malaysia’s largest construction company responsible for designing and building the iconic Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, has already invested heavily in the site.
When completed it will include the Bristol’s much-delayed 19,500 capacity arena, 60 acres of commercial development focused on hi-tech, aerospace and university facilities, 6,500 new homes, three new schools and a 15-acre new park along with a new railway station.
Mr Ping voiced his ambition for the Brabazon development as Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited London to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer and officially launch the £2bn investment in the project.
According to YTL, the development will generate more than 30,000 jobs.
Inspired by Danish capital Copenhagen, the project is being designed to allow people to access essential services – workplaces, schools, shops, public transport and healthcare – within a 15-minute radius of their home.
Around 300 homes have been built so far on the site.
Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said YTL’s investment was “incredible news for the UK”, adding it would “create a generational transformation for North Bristol, delivering infrastructure, new schools and creating thousands of new homes and jobs in the region”.
West of England Mayor Dan Norris said the region continued 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,” he added.
“YTL remain committed to investing in our part of the world, and their latest £2bn plans will be a further real boost for the region – delivering more than 30,000 jobs.”
He said the new station, which is planned to open in 2026, would be crucial for helping people get to what will be the UK’s third largest arena – behind the AO in Manchester and London’s O2 – while also getting around the West of England.”
