KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Group has unveiled plans to invest £4 billion (RM22 billion) in the United Kingdom (UK) over the next five years.
This major investment includes £2 billion (RM11 billion) earmarked for the Brabazon new town in Bristol, which will feature 6,500 homes, three schools, a 19,500-capacity arena, and conference and exhibition spaces.
The remaining £2 billion will support YTL's existing businesses in the UK.
This initiative underscores YTL's dedication to the UK market, with investments spanning water and sewerage, hospitality, and real estate.
UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds praised the initiative, calling it a significant endorsement of the UK economy.
He said this investment demonstrates the government's Plan for Change in driving economic growth and highlights the transformative power of investment in cities.
Trade between Malaysia and the UK reached nearly £6 billion in the year leading to June 2024, with expectations of further growth following the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024.
The CPTPP provides fair and equal market access for Malaysian and UK investors, enhancing confidence in bilateral inve
stments.
Tan Sri Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, executive chairman of YTL Group, emphasised the broader significance of this collaboration.
He said that Malaysian investments in the UK go beyond economic growth.
They symbolise a commitment to innovation, prosperity, and creating a better world for all, Yeoh said, expressing optimism about the potential for strengthened trade agreements to foster new collaborations and greater investments.
"Our ongoing investments in the UK have resonated deeply, both in the UK and Malaysia," said Yeoh."
Brabazon: A visionary development
YTL, the largest Malaysian investor in the UK since 2002, acquired the 380-acre Filton Airfield and Brabazon Hangars near Bristol in 2016. This site, the largest brownfield development in South West England, is being transformed into Brabazon, a sustainable new town.
The development embraces a "15-minute city" concept inspired by Copenhagen, prioritising sustainability and accessibility. Residents will have essential services, such as workplaces, schools, healthcare, and public transport, within a 15-minute radius of their homes.
The Brabazon development will include 6,500 homes, three schools, three hotels, a retirement village, 2,000 student beds, and 60 acres of commercial space for high-tech, aerospace, and university facilities.
The centrepiece will be a 19,500-capacity carbon-neutral arena and a futuristic entertainment attraction.
Currently, 300 homes are occupied, with another 240 under construction.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during a five-day working visit to the UK, officially launched the Brabazon housing and arena development on Wednesday.