News / Brabazon
Malaysian PM announces multi-billion pound investment in Brabazon and Bristol Arena
Brabazon, the new development on the site of the former Filton Airfield, was one of the main topics of discussion when the prime minister of Malaysia visited Keir Starmer in Downing Street.
Anwar Ibrahim promised £4bn from YTL over the next five years into the UK as Brabazon hopes to become the most sustainable new town in the UK.
As well as 6,500 new homes on the 380-acre site, Bristol’s long-awaited arena is also due to be located within the giant former hangars in which the Brabazon aircraft was once built.
Brabazon will also have three new schools, office spaces, laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities and the largest park to be built in the South West for more than 50 years.
YTL, which has been the owner of Wessex Water since 2002, is the largest Malaysian investor in the UK.
The Brabazon hangars are due to be turned into a state-of-the-art arena, conferencing and entertainment complex – image: YTL
Ibrahim said: “As chair of ASEAN this year, Malaysia is uniquely positioned to promote regional economic integration, using YTL’s success as a shining example of ASEAN-UK collaboration.
“Investments by Malaysian businesses into the UK are not just about economic growth, they reflect our commitment to nurturing partnerships that drive innovation, foster prosperity, and contribute to a better world for all.”
In November 2024, YTL obtained planning approval to deliver 6,500 homes, three schools, three hotels, 2,000 student beds, a retirement village, a new railway station and 60 acres of commercial development at Brabazon – image: YTL
Executive chairman of YTL Group, Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, added: “Brabazon is a rare opportunity to reimagine how best to live, work and play in today’s world whilst ensuring that sustainability is built into the development from conceptualisation.
“Our expertise in our 70 years as a builder of Malaysia’s infrastructure will inform our strategies and methodologies in building this ambitious project.”
The prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, formally launched Brabazon New Town on his visit to the UK – image: YTL
Main image: YTL
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