Plans for a new 4,120m² public square at Brabazon, designed by landscape architects Grant Associates, have been approved by South Gloucestershire Council.
The new public space will be one of the primary gateways to the New Town at Brabazon, which is becoming firmly established as one of the most exciting new city districts in the country.
The design also promotes sustainable transport, with 100 secure cycle parking spaces distributed throughout the square, and seamless integration with the wider network of high-quality walking and cycling routes currently being built at Brabazon.
Located immediately north of the new station at Brabazon – connecting to Bristol Temple Meads in under 15 minutes – the square has been conceived as a flexible area of public realm. On event days at the new Arena, it will accommodate visitors in managed queuing lanes, while on non-event days it will host local and seasonal markets. Generous tree planting will provide natural shade and weather protection, while a seasonal garden along the southern edge of the square offers a space to pause, relax, and connect with nature.
Commissioned by YTL Developments, the new public square will serve as a central civic space and hub for train passengers at the under-construction station. On the east, an approved eight-storey Grade A office will be built. To the west, visitors will be guided to the new Bristol Arena and surrounding areas. The square is part of the Brabazon masterplan, a vibrant city district on historic Filton Airfield, showcasing urban regeneration on a UK brownfield site. Once finished, Brabazon will feature up to 6,500 homes, 2,000 student beds, 86 acres of public spaces, plus 3.7 million sq ft of commercial space supporting 30,000 jobs and over £100m in sustainable transport infrastructure.
Grant Associates has been working in close partnership with YTL Developments for over a decade, helping to shape the landscape vision for Brabazon. This includes the original masterplan and open space strategy, detailed designs for residential neighbourhoods and street corridors, as well as landscape-led planning applications for both the Arena and Brabazon Park — which will be the largest new urban park in the southwest for 50 years.