Brabazon wins Best Use of Brownfield Land in Placemaking at Planning Awards 2025

Brabazon has been awarded The Best Use of Brownfield Land in Placemaking at The Planning Awards 2025. 

The category recognises the use of brownfield land to improve the physical, environmental, economic or social attributes of a place.  

Judges praised YTL Developments for a transformation that would have been “unimaginable” when permission was first granted for a low-density plan. They commended the bold and visionary revised masterplan to transform Filton Airfield into a thriving new high-density, mixed-use neighbourhood for North Bristol. 

The 380-acre former Filton Airfield is one of the largest brownfield sites in the country. YTL Developments is building up to 6,500 new homes at Brabazon - including over 1,700 affordable homes - alongside student accommodation and homes for later living. 

With the West of England region facing a housing need of over 100,000 new homes, by maximising the potential of this brownfield site, Brabazon is relieving pressure on greenfield land in unsustainable out-of-town locations.   

Filton Airfield is also at the heart of Bristol’s world-class engineering and commercial cluster, which has driven local prosperity for over 100 years. As the birthplace of Concorde and supersonic travel, the site is steeped in history and the vision for Brabazon is to live up to the legacy of the pioneers who built Concorde and create the space, connectivity and opportunity for the next generation to shape the future once again from North Bristol.  

More than 45,000 employees already work in high-skilled roles within a few miles of Brabazon, impacting on demand for further commercial space and quality homes in the local community for their workforce. 

Seb Loyn, Planning and Development Director at YTL Developments said: “We are delighted to win this award and particularly, the category of Best use of Brownfield Land.   

“The original plan risked the potential of a crucial strategic site: a low-density estate with an unsustainable design.  Today, we are on track to build up to 6,500 homes, together with over 86 acres of green space, a 3-acre lake and a dedicated railway station linking to the centre of Bristol.” 

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