YTL Developments has started construction on new student accommodation at Brabazon – the new neighbourhood being built on the former Filton Airfield.
The project aims to create the space, connectivity and opportunity to inspire the next generation of talent to study and then to stay in Bristol.
Construction of the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) at Brabazon started as the first of 1011 pile foundations commenced.
The student accommodation will be connected to the city centre and beyond by every form of sustainable transport. The MetroBus will stop at Brabazon and both the University of the West of England (UWE) and the University of Bristol. The UWE campus is a 1.5-mile walk or cycle away along dedicated bike paths and pedestrian routes. And a new railway station will serve Bristol Temple Meads – adjacent to the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus – in less than 15 minutes.
With 1,514 bedrooms, located across 4 mansion-style buildings on the southern boundary of Brabazon, close to the new railway station, the plans will have the space students want, both to socialise and to study. There will be dining areas and karaoke rooms, a gaming suite and gym, as well as shared studies and quiet working areas.
Outside, the landscaped courtyards and green spaces include exercise areas and even a basketball court as well as south-facing gardens. The project is designed to inspire the next generation of engineers, designers and inventors, attracting the best young talent to Bristol. It will also help address the accommodation shortage that otherwise risks upsetting the balance of some neighbourhoods.
Designed by leading local architects Stride Treglown, the first phase of the project is scheduled to complete in time for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Neil MacDonald, Project Director, YTL Developments comments:
“Brabazon embodies the pioneering spirit of the former Filton Airfield, inspiring the next generation to shape the future from North Bristol. Purpose-built student accommodation is integral to our vision of fostering a vibrant and diverse community as well as opening up a wide range of opportunities for the local supply chain and economy.
“Upon completion of the project, approximately 400 private homes will also join the landscape, meaning Brabazon will be home to over 2,000 residents in 2-3 years’ time.
“With work on the YTL Arena Bristol now in motion, incoming visitors and residents will help bolster the sustainability and reliability of public transport services, including the MetroBus and a new train station. Together with the existing engineering cluster, the residents of Brabazon will accelerate the transformation of North Bristol, ensuring its continued prosperity and status as a hub of opportunity for the next century.”
