Waitrose comes to Brabazon with multi-million pound deal for a new flagship store

Waitrose has chosen Brabazon for its first new flagship supermarket in seven years, further cementing the neighbourhood as one of the best places to live in Bristol. 

The 30,000 sq ft store at Brabazon will create around 150 new jobs and is expected to open in 2027. It will be located approximately 500m from the new train station under construction, which will benefit from higher frequency services as part of the Government’s £800m investment in the region’s transport network. 

The multi-million pound deal agreed with YTL Developments is the first major commercial partnership announced at Brabazon, which is already established as one of Bristol’s most desirable residential neighbourhoods.

The arrival of Waitrose follows the YTL Group’s commitment in January to invest £4bn in its UK businesses over the next five years and marks the next stage in the transformation of Brabazon, demonstrating its attractiveness not only to new homebuyers, but now also for commercial investment. 

James Bailey, Executive Director for Waitrose, said: 

“Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful regional economies. Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.” 

The new Waitrose supermarket will be located in a prime position on the A38 Gloucester Road at the gateway to Brabazon. It will occupy the ground floor of a seven-storey office building, designed by AHR architects and be served by an adjacent multi-storey car park with space for over 1,500 vehicles. 

The office accommodation – located between GKN’s Global Technology Centre and the Bristol campus of Airbus UK - is set out over floorplates of 18,800 sq ft and is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating. 

Hundreds of award-winning new homes at Brabazon are already completed and occupied. Hundreds more are currently under construction, as well as over 1,500 beds of purpose-built student accommodation and a new community hub in a historic listed aircraft hangar.

Designed to live up to the legacy of this former Airfield’s pioneering past, the approved plans for Brabazon include thousands of new homes, creative workplaces to support up to 30,000 jobs, as well as the largest new urban public park in the South West for over 50 years and a supersonic new 19,500-capacity Arena for Bristol.  

Seb Loyn, Planning & Development Director at YTL Developments said: 

“The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon: It shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for commercial investment in the South West. 

“In the past year, YTL Developments has announced a multi-billion pound investment package, seen work start on a new train station, and welcomed hundreds of new residents to the community. Welcoming Waitrose - one of the best-loved retailers in the UK - to Brabazon as our first commercial partnership is a signal of our intent to create a new town for North Bristol that works for people and for businesses, now and for years to come.” 

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