'Innovation Cities' report part 2: creative industries and new towns

Above: YTL Arena at Brabazon Bristol - courtesy of Grimshaw and Manica Architects

In the second part of Future Cities Forum's 'Innovation Cities' report, from a discussion recorded at Deloitte's Bristol offices, there was debate on the impact of investment in creative and entertainment industries, as well as the prospects for new town development. There has been a recent announcement of a new town development in north Bristol, on the edge of YTL's Brabazon housing development, which includes YTL's new entertainment arena.

Those contributors taking park included Bristol City Council's Head of Culture and Creative Industries, Philip Walker, YTL Developments' Senior Commercial Development Manager Ryan Curran, LDA Design's Director Cath Birkin, Grimshaw Partner Keith Brewis as well as the West of England Combined Authority's Chief Executive Stephen Peacock.

Philip Walker was asked whether culture is not just 'a nice to have' but also an important engine-driver for the economy. He said:

'The government has invested in the sector via the DCMS through the Creative Places Growth Fund but there is a disconnect as you can put money into high growth companies but you also need investment into the wider ecosystem. There has been a lot of talk about freelance creatives, performers and artists, so how do you support these? The traditional funding has been there in local authorities but that ability to catalyse growth at grass roots is really challenging. Pressure is enormous on council budgets, and statutory spending on adult social care, education and social housing is crowding out everything else. Government is listening but DCMS is not the Treasury and it has limited means.

'We need a more nuanced discussion on how the funding that comes through the combined authority and other routes is able to support the whole ecosystem. Money is spent on the big infrastructure projects and it is fantastic that we are getting the Brabazon Arena, and we also have one of the best music concert venues in the country in the Beacon which has had capital investment. We just want to make sure that we don't lose the acts, the performers, the DJs, that feed the venues. How do we support artists and the freelance community? The city is doing great developments like Temple Quarter but we are at risk of pricing out the creative industries workforce from the city.'

In relation to this, Bristol Creative Industries has commented on the creative industries sector plan published by the government in June 2025:

'Bristol and the wider region is mentioned several times in the plan. That includes a reference to Bristol as a “strong regional creative hub” and home to “cutting-edge createch“. It also references the BBC Studio’s Natural History Unit in Bristol which it says “has led to the region being known as ‘Green Hollywood'” which “not only boosts the region’s economy but also adds vital social value”.

'A map of the creative industries in different regions has this for the West of England, with references to Channel 4, The Bottle Yard Studios, and Aardman Animations'.

Above: Castle Park, Bristol (courtesy Bristol City Council)

The importance of entertainment and green spaces for the wellbeing of residents as well as visitors was also discussed during the debate. LDA Design's Director and Project Lead, Cath Birkin described how Castle Park regeneration is vital to the cultural life of Bristol.

'We have our work cut out and one of the options is to do nothing. That is not good. We have just heard how the local police are handing over the responsibility to central government as there is so much drug dealing and there have been three stabbings in the last six months. If you do not look after this very important green space in the middle of the city the good things there - like the physic garden and the independent café - will simply disappear.

'What can we do and how can we fund it? the green space is a connector asset to bring people together for public events and art so people can appropriate the city. We are in danger of forgetting about the heart. There isn't a traditional funding model for this so how can we bring in the activity and partner with the surrounding organisations, events and community. There are many opportunities to join up.'

LDA Design was appointed by Bristol City Council to lead a team to reinvigorate Castle Park, which the largest green open space in the city centre.

It describes the project:

'The Park is an important place with a history stretching back to the city’s beginnings in the 11^th century and the aim of the project is that everyone who lives and works in Bristol should feel able to use and enjoy it.

'Castle Park sits at the heart of a changing urban environment, at the intersection of Bristol’s Old City, the Floating Harbour, Broadmead and the Old Market. Redevelopment and densification of the city centre, including Broadmead and Temple Quarter, increases the need for a high-quality, safe and accessible green space, which knits together these key locations.

'The 11-hectare Park features the site of Bristol Castle, which was the largest Norman keep ever built in Europe, and the ruins of St Peter’s Church, which was bombed during the Second World War, stands as a memorial to Bristolians killed in the Blitz. More recently, the church and park have memorials to Bristol’s armed services from various conflicts. It is also a popular spot for local residents and workers, with a sunny, south-facing aspect along the waterfront.

'The new plans will celebrate this history and strengthen the Park’s role as an important green refuge. They will reinforce a sense of place and experience within the city centre and create a more inclusive, multi-functional, active space with better access and more inviting gateways, for example St Nick’s market, Newgate and Cabot Circus, and enhanced biodiversity.'

Above: city green at Brabazon, Bristol (CGI courtesy YTL Developments)

YTL Group has invested in the creation of a world class live music and entertainment arena for Bristol and the west of England. The transformation of the historic Brabazon Hangars into the 20,000-capacity YTL Arena in Bristol is now gathering pace, with major demolition completed ready for construction to begin.

The central hangar has been stripped back to its original 1940s steel frame, while the iconic Esavian sliding hangar doors have been removed, creating a striking view straight through the vast building that was the birthplace of Concorde. Preparations are also underway to remove seven major structural trusses and the existing roof to enable the construction of the new seating bowl. In January 2025 YTL Group announced an additional £4bn of funding across its UK businesses, and described the Brabazon project:

'At the heart of YTL Group’s investment plans for the UK is Brabazon: the transformation of the 380-acre former Filton Airfield in North Bristol.  Brabazon is already a thriving new community, with almost 300 homes now occupied as the first phase, known as The Hangar District, nears completion.  

'The additional funding will accelerate the delivery of the new neighbourhood, which includes up to 6,500 new homes, three new schools, three hotels, over 3million square feet of commercial space and up to 2,000 beds of student accommodation. 

The vision for Brabazon will also see the hangars where every UK Concorde was built reimagined as a new Arena for Bristol. This 19,500-capacity carbon-neutral entertainment venue and conferencing centre will put Bristol on the world stage for live music, entertainment and exhibitions.  

'Brabazon will be connected to Bristol and beyond by major new infrastructure. A new railway station will connect Brabazon to Bristol Temple Meads in less than 15 minutes, while new MetroBus links, walking routes and cycle paths will help create the best-connected new city district in the South West.

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Above: CGI of YTL Arena (courtesy Grimshaw / Manica)

Recently, the UK government's New Towns Taskforce announced 'a corridor development in South Gloucestershire across Brabazon and the West Innovation Arc, building in one of the highest productivity areas in the country with a high value research, advanced engineering and technology economy.'

The current Brabazon development already has housing at its core, but now there is a further area of growth from the new town development arc, with all the planning that is required to make that into a liveable place, along with connecting infrastructure.

Transport have often been overlooked in planning new developments and towns, so Ryan Curran of YTL Developments who joined Future Cities Forum's discussion, was asked about the transport challenges of connecting the Brabazon development to the rest of the city, to London and beyond:

'We have made great strides with our local authority partners to make sure that a new station can be opened to support the Brabazon development in north Bristol. Of course with the New Towns Taskforce designating Brabazon as part of a new town, we will see more infrastructure investment from central government to supercharge Brabazon and the region. News about Henbury Loop and more connections to London, and also the potential for mass transit will be very good.

With the new town designation, Ryan was asked whether this development has a danger of turning into 'urban sprawl' or whether with careful planning a particular identity can be created and become a place where people want to live.

Ryan responded:

'To turn the question around, Brabazon has opportunity to connect all the great clusters in the region. Brabazon is moving forward on the coat-tails of a lot of good things in the region.

'Our role is to harness that and create places where people want to live or grow their business. Our development mantra is 'a home for everyone' and we have everything from affordable housing to high-end rental products to low budget amenity rental. We have co-working and flexible working spaces as well as the potential for an organisation to create a new work campus. The master-plan keeps changing, but we need to remain as flexible as possible. We can be a launch-pad for growth.'

Keith Brewis, Partner at Grimshaw, who also joined the discussion, commented:

'I live in Bristol but I work globally. People take risks and are progressive and I draw from experience of working in Singapore and Oman. There is a massive demand now for a series of pilot projects associated with development using mass transit on how future generations are actually looking to use and move through the city.

'Secondly we need to be aware how the needs of the city and economy - and this includes all the tech clusters using AI - are very closely connected to energy sources and the need for future generations to understand that their energy sources are sustainable. There need to deeper associations with mass transit and energy.

Grimshaw is working on the designs for the YTL Arena, and describes the project:

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'YTL’s unique brief to us, seeks to turn three disused aircraft hangars on Bristol’s Filton Airfield into a multi-purpose live music and entertainment arena, capable of staging a variety of events, including concerts, numerous sports, theatre and comedy.

'Built in the late 1940s to originally accommodate the construction of the Bristol Type 167 ‘Brabazon’ – the largest and most luxurious civil airliner of its time – the hangars would later become the assembly site for all ten UK Concorde aircrafts, revolutionising air travel for the 1970s generation.

'The project will create a destination of very real significance for the city - an arena, exhibition and leisure space all under one roof. The 17,000 capacity arena, the third largest in the UK, will occupy the central hangar. The east hangar will house a festival hall tailored to accommodate conventions, exhibitions and large scale events. The west hangar provides a hub space for small, start-up creative enterprises, complete with leisure facilities, food and drink outlets.

'Respecting the principles of sustainability inherent in adaptive reuse, YTL Arena will utilise low carbon energy sources, such as onsite battery storage, rainwater harvesting and grey water re-use.'

Future Cities Forum will be publishing part three of its 'Innovation Cities' discussion shortly.

Above: Brabazon airliner in hangar at Filton Bristol (courtesy Graham M Simons Collection)