First look at latest plans for neighbourhood built on former airfield site

YTL Developments has revealed its updated vision to transform Filton’s former airfield land into a “new urban community” for Bristol.

The extensive development planned on what YTL has labelled the South West’s “largest brownfield site” could become considerably larger than originally planned.

Key features of the latest proposals for the new neighbourhood, called Brabazon, include revisions to the quantities of homes, amount of commercial and green space and commitment to sustainable living.

The development initially secured planning consent from South Gloucestershire Council in 2018 to build a development with 2,675 new homes, 62 acres of commercial space and a host of community facilities including three schools, a library and a doctor surgery encircled by urban parkland.

Now, YTL has amended proposals to increase its allocation of new homes to 3,675.

A CGI aerial view of what YTL has labelled the South West’s “largest brownfield site” – image courtesy of YTL Developments

The additional 1,000 homes would replace those initially planned for a development on nearby land occupied by Patchway Trading Estate, which YTL says is no longer going ahead.

The number could also potentially grow to 6,500 if public transport infrastructure can keep pace with the additional homes.

While YTL already has permission for enough commercial space to support 10,000 jobs, the new plans include space to support up to 20,000 more in an area which the company describes as “the heart of a world-leading cluster of aerospace, engineering and technology companies” with “no space to grow”.

There are plans to build a new station as part of the transport investment needed to support the large development – CGI image courtesy of YTL Developments

The site is named after the Brabazon Hangars, a landmark building part of Bristol’s heritage since the 1940s having homed the Bristol Brabazon and later been the birthplace of Concorde.

Separate from the housing proposals, YTL secured planning permission in 2020 to reimagine the historic hangars, which have sat empty since 2009, into a “supersonic” arena with a capacity of 17,000.

This will be the development’s “beating social heart”, say YTL. It is set to replace the arena that was originally proposed for Temple Island before mayor Marvin Rees scrapped the plans for the city centre location in 2018.

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Read more: YTL Arena boss: ‘We’re building much more than just an arena’

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As well as updated plans for homes and employment opportunities, YTL has already pledged to create the “largest new urban public park in the South West for 50 years”, at the site covering 15 acres and comprising of wildlife corridors, walking routes, water gardens, exercise areas and children’s playgrounds.

A cluster of homes have already been built in an earlier phase of building work – photo by Betty Woolerton

Seb Loyn, who is the planning and development director for YTL Developments, said that Brabazon is “perfectly placed” to tackle the social and environmental issues that Bristol and the wider region faces.

“In Bristol and South Gloucestershire we face a housing crisis, and the region needs to build over 100,000 homes in the next ten years to meet demand,” said Loyn.

“We also face a climate crisis, so it is not enough just to build homes: we must build them in the right places. That means on brownfield land along existing transport corridors, rather than on green fields in out-of-town locations.

“And we have the opportunity to build back better following Covid-19, creating the space, the connectivity and the opportunity for local businesses across the region to drive prosperity for the next generation.”

After launching a public consultation on Thursday, the company plans to submit a formal planning application in February 2022.

Thousands of new homes could join the existing Brabazon development – Betty Woolerton

People can give feedback on the proposals online via www.ytldevelopments.co.uk/brabazon-planning/

There are also drop in consultation events taking place at YTL Developments’ Site Operations Centre on Gloucester Road North on the following dates:

Saturday, January 8 2022: 11am to 4pm
Tuesday, January 11 2022: 10am to 12pm
Thursday, January 13 2022: 6pm to 8pm

Main image courtesy of YTL Developments

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