Former Filton Airfield To Become New Bristol Suburb

With the UK needing to build so many new homes, any new housing development getting the green light is to be welcomed. It’s also good news for construction workers because of the jobs it brings.

These positive tidings are only increased when the development is a large one, bringing more homes and large-scale employment, potentially over a longer period. For that reason, there may be much to celebrate with news that the former Filton Airfield on the northern outskirts of Bristol is about to be transformed into a new suburb of 6,500 homes.

YTL Developments has been given the green light by South Gloucestershire Council to develop the 15-acre Brabazon Park, with the new homes being accompanied by attractive elements like wildlife habitats.

Planning permission for the transformation of what will be one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK was originally given for 2,500 homes in 2018, but this has been revised upwards.

Planning & Development Director for YTL Developments Seb Loyn commented: “If we are to tackle the climate crisis, we need to build more sustainable homes in the right places.”

He added: “Brabazon is on brownfield land along existing public transport corridors. Maximising its potential will ease pressure on the green belt.”

Located just beyond Bristol’s northern boundary, the wider site is already undergoing some construction work on new homes and roads. As the weather warms up, construction staff on site may benefit from investing in lightweight work trousers to wear as spring progresses and summer approaches.

The final result of the project should be impressive. As well as the new homes, there will be a new indoor arena for Bristol, a railway station, sports facilities and a heritage trail link to the Aerospace Bristol Museum.

The area may be connected by further public transport infrastructure if the city’s mooted metro light rail system goes ahead. This has been the subject of fierce debate, with outgoing Bristol mayor Marvin Rees arguing that it should be built partly underground, especially in congested central areas. Filton would be at the proposed northern end of such a system.

Whether or not the underground ever happens – and many consider it pie in the sky -, the development still represents a major success in turning brownfield land into new housing on a large scale.

As major cities such as Bristol expand, finding brownfield within their boundaries can be challenging, as large sites become increasingly scarce.

The 2021 census showed that Bristol’s need for new housing had clearly grown rapidly, with its population at the 2021 Census measured at 472,000. This was up by 10.3 per cent, the fastest increase over the previous decade of any of the ‘core cities’ of England and Wales, outstripping the likes of Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Cardiff.

However, the public transport shortcomings mean it may struggle to solve its housing issues by building upwards at high density in a similar manner to city centres like Manchester or Birmingham, with their extensive tram systems.

Instead, it may be the growing desire of people to live in and around Bristol is best met by more brownfield sites being found in the towns around its boundary, such as Filton, or Kingswood to the east.