Bayan Baru has become one of the most fast-tracked developing towns on the island of Penang. This is in large part due to the establishment of the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone which saw many multinational companies from around the world setting up operations there, creating a multiplicity of employment opportunities in the area. This in turn had prompted a boom in population in Bayan Lepas and the surrounding neighbourhoods as more and more people moved, worked and lived down south in those areas, out of Georgetown.

With the increase in population, Bayan Baru is seeing an increase in residential developments to accommodate the growing numbers. Many of those are apartment and condominium residences such as Arena Residences, Bayan City, D’Piazza Condominium, Elit Heights, The One Penang Cyber City and many more. Commercial developments like Arena Curve and Elit Avenue Business Park have also enabled many amenities and businesses to be set up there, catering to the ever-growing population.

Amenities in Bayan Baru include numerous eateries and food courts, banks, clinics and shopping malls such as Sunshine Square, D’Piazza Mall, One Precinct and a Giant hypermarket. There is also the modern and convenient Bayan Baru market which was also built to cater to the booming population. The only school within the area is SK Bayan Baru while the nearest hospital is Pantai Hospital in Bayan Lepas, about 15 minutes away.

Bayan Baru is within close proximity to several major roads, namely the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which leads up north through Pantai Jerjak, Batu Uban, Gelugor, and Pengkalan Weld before going left towards Georgetown. Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah also connects Bayan Baru to northern Penang, passing through areas like Sungai Dua, Gelugor and Jelutong before reaching Georgetown on the right. Journey by either roads to Georgetown will take approximately 25 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions.

As a large part of the population in Bayan Baru comprises of those working in Bayan Lepas, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway experience heavy traffic during the peak hours in the morning and evening when Bayan Baru residents go and come back from work.

The Bayan Lepas Elevated Highway, which was built with the purpose of easing the congestion, has not helped much due to its extension of about 1km from what was originally proposed, halfway through construction. This has caused the elevated highway to bypass certain key areas such as the Bayan Baru roundabout, Kampung Jawa junction and Sungai Dua junction where traffic is usually most congested.