AIRBUS has pledged more than £800,000 towards a permanent home for Concorde.

The aerospace giant gave the funding pledge, worth £840,000, to The Concorde Trust, which plans to build a Bristol Concorde Aviation Museum at Cribbs Causeway near Filton.

Andy O'Brien, Airbus's head of customer services at Filton, said: "This pledge is an important milestone towards creating a permanent home for Concorde in the Filton area.

"We have been the proud custodian for Alpha Foxtrot since 2003, but always knew we were an interim step towards a permanent home."

The pledge is in addition to the £1.8 million the company has spent maintaining the aircraft and supporting public tours since the aircraft returned to Filton in 2003.

To date, repairs have included corrosion removal and re-protection, skin panel repairs and a general weatherproofing of the airframe.

The Concorde Trust already has outline planning consent for the proposed £9 million aviation museum, and depending on funding hopes to have it open by the end of 2014.

It is proposed the museum would also house the Bristol Aero Collection.

Mike Littleton, chairman of The Concorde Trust, said: "We are delighted that Airbus has pledged its continued support for our project. As well as celebrating one hundred years of aviation heritage, we will be working with schools, universities and industry to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

"The financial pledge from Airbus is a significant contribution which has greatly supported our bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund."

The Concorde Trust is currently waiting to hear if it has been successful in securing a £2.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which was supported by South Gloucestershire and Bristol City Councils, as well as the local aviation industry and local MPs.

Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti said: "I am delighted that Airbus has pledged this kind donation. I have been lobbying for the future of Alpha Foxtrot since my election and it seems like we are making real progress. I will be keeping a close eye on further developments next week – and fingers crossed that it will be good news for the future of Concorde in the Filton area."

An announcement is due on the lottery application next week.