KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has formally launched The Brabazon New Town project – the largest brownfield development in the UK – which is spearheaded by YTL Group.
The town will be based on the former Filton Airfield on the Bristol and South Gloucestershire border, BBC reported. The project involves the construction of 6,500 houses, a six-acre park, a 19,000-capacity entertainment and cultural arena, three schools and more.
Speaking at the project’s launch event on Wednesday, Anwar said that a new trade deal between the UK and Malaysia represents a “golden opportunity”.
Meanwhile, UK’s Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson, who was present at the launch event as well, said “YTL’s commitment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK”.
“Seeing global investors put billions in the UK economy shows we are an investment destination of choice,” she was quoted as saying.
Additionally, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, the executive chairman of YTL Group, said the company’s takeover of Wessex Water in 2002 is a “shining example” of the benefits of 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,” he said.
Yeoh also announced that the company would invest a further £4 billion (RM21.96 billion) in the UK over the next five years, further strengthening economic ties between Malaysia and the UK.
The UK formally joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024, which enabled a closer partnership between YTL in both the country and Malaysia.
Developers have placed hope that the new township, which would cost about £2 billion (RM10.99 billion) to build, will be the most sustainable one in the UK. The Copenhagen-inspired 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.
About 300 homes have already been built at the Brabazon site, with 240 more units under construction. Plans for the new development have been in the pipeline for about seven years.
South Gloucestershire Council has granted permission for YTL Developments to create Brabazon Park in Filton in November 2022.
BBC reported YTL Construction UK as saying last September that the Bristol Arena could open in 2027. – January 16, 2025.