CONSTRUCTION of the new home for the last Concorde to fly has begun with a ground breaking event in Filton.

The ceremony on Thursday, March 26, marked the start of work for the hangar dedicated to housing the Concorde 216 supersonic jet, which will be part of the new Aerospace Bristol visitor attraction.

The project was collectively founded by BAE Systems, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, South Gloucestershire Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

While at the event, guests were invited to stand on a large white outline in the shape of Concorde on the point where it will soon live.

While groundwork on the site has has officially begun, fundraising is still not complete, with the group still looking to raise a further £2 million to finalise the project, ahead of opening in the summer of next year.

Iain Gray, chairman of the Bristol Aero Collection Trust, said: “That we should find a fitting home for Concorde here at Filton is a statement and testimony to the achievements of everyone involved in the development, the production and the support of Concorde, and to the citizens of Bristol who are so proud of our aeroplane.”

“Perhaps even more importantly, it is a symbol of what can be achieved and an inspiration for a new generation of engineers. The success of Concorde must be the inspiration for today’s youth to join our great industry and develop the new ideas of tomorrow.”