News / Brabazon
Waitrose announces flagship store at ‘most exciting new city district’
Brabazon development in north Bristol has secured its first major retailer, with Waitrose unveiling plans to open a flagship supermarket in what is being described as “one of the best places to live in Bristol”.
This will be the first flagship supermarket from the Waitrose group in seven years and is expected to create around 150 new jobs.
The 30,000 sq ft store is scheduled to open in 2027 and will be located 500m from the new train station, part of the government’s £800m transport investment in the region.
The supermarket will occupy the ground floor of a new seven-storey office building on the A38 Gloucester Road, and will be accompanied by a multi-storey car park to accommodate 1,500 vehicles.
The new Waitrose flagship store will be located from 500m from the train station which is expected to open in 2026 – photo: YTL
The building, situated between GKN’s Global Technology Centre and Airbus UK, is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
This marks the first major commercial partnership at Brabazon, delivered by YTL Developments, which is expected to invest £4bn over the next five years, as promised by Anwar Ebrahim, prime minister of Malaysia, during a visit to 10 Downing Street early this year.
Brabazon already features hundreds of new homes, purpose-built student accommodation and a community hub. Future plans include thousands more homes, creative workspaces supporting up to 30,000 jobs, a large urban park, and the much-anticipated 20,000-capacity arena.
This news follows a planning application submission for the first office block at Brabazon, which is expected to be completed in 2026.
YTL Developments, the Malaysia-based company behind the regeneration of the former airfield in Filton, welcomed the announcement.
The new Waitrose at Brabazon will occupy the ground floor of a new seven-storey office building on the A38 Gloucester Road – photo: YTL
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 both homebuyers and 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.”
He added: “Welcoming Waitrose – one of the best-loved retailers in the UK – to Brabazon as our first commercial partnership signals our intent to create a new town for North Bristol that works for people and businesses, now and for years to come.”
Waitrose echoed the sentiment of YTL, describing Brabazon as “one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful regional economies”.
The Waitrose at Brabazon will be the first flagship supermarket from the Waitrose group in seven years – photo: Milan Perera
James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people.
“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.”
Main photo: YTL
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