CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer George Osborne visited the Airbus site in Filton yesterday to announce a £37 million investment into the aircraft manufacturer.

Mr Osborne joined Airbus chief operating officer Tom Williams CBE in unveiling plans for a new Wing Integration Centre at the site, which will serve as an advanced testing centre for large structural components. 

The new facility will house around 300 highly skilled engineers who will develop and test the cutting edge ideas in aerospace technology, and is expected to open in 2017.  

The project is receiving funding from the joint industry and government aerospace research and development funding programme, delivered as a partnership between the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK.  

Chancellor George Osborne said: “When it comes to aerospace design Britain is the innovator of Europe and I want to see us going even further and becoming the global leader. 

“That is why we are committing £37 million for a new cutting edge research facility right here in the heart of the South West.

“Not only will the new research centre play home to some of the most exciting innovations in aerospace, for years to come it will also protect hundreds of highly skilled jobs.”

Tom Williams said: “I would like to thank the Chancellor for visiting Filton today and making this vitally important announcement for the UK and Airbus.

“It is crucial we take the lead in developing new technology and this facility will help to shape the future of air travel for decades to come. 

“This joint investment is a further boost to the Airbus site at Filton which is the global leader in design and testing of wings, fuel systems, and landing gear.”

Gary Elliott, CEO of the Aerospace Technology Institute said: “This new centre is vitally important for the UK as it secures a future wing capability for the country.

“As well as being a state-of-the-art test facility, this will act as a centre of excellence for the UK’s engineers who work on wing design and integration.”

Filton has seen significant investment in new facilities, most recently the £70 million Aerospace Park as well as other ATI-funded research projects into future technologies. 

A further £100 million has been invested in facilities to test aircraft systems on the Filton site.