A NEW home for Concorde is finally set to go ahead after a funding arrangement was agreed by South Gloucestershire Council.

An aerospace museum, housing the iconic supersonic jet, is the centre piece of a £206million capital investment programme which has been approved at meeting of all councillors.

Funding from the City Region Deal means that £1.1million can be contributed to the Bristol Aero Collection Trust to help develop a new £13.5million aerospace museum and learning centre in Filton.

The centre will tell the story of the region’s world-class aerospace sector – past, present and future – and will house Concorde 216, which has been preserved at Filton since it made the last Concorde flight in 2003.

The museum will also include a learning centre specialising in engineering, science and technology.

The council said when complete, the centre would be a key part of Filton’s new Enterprise Area, a 120-acre employment location focused on the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors and offering unique investment and job creation potential.

In a joint statement, council leaders Cllrs John Calway, Ruth Davis and Andy Perkins said: “We have long supported plans for a dedicated centre to celebrate Filton’s aerospace heritage and provide a permanent home for the much-loved Concorde 216.

“The area is the birthplace of the UK’s aerospace industry and remains an internationally-renowned centre of aviation excellence, hosting giants such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus and GKN.

“The centre will help to safeguard this distinguished heritage for generations to come while also acting as a focus for exciting new developments, such as the Enterprise Area, which will help to secure Filton’s continued success into the future.”

Iain Gray, chairman of Bristol Aero Collection Trust, said the money would make a ‘huge difference to the project’s momentum’.

He added: “Like us, the council recognises the great importance of celebrating this region’s world-class aerospace industry, preserving Concorde for public display, and investing in learning and skills development, especially in science, engineering and technology.

“Many organisations already share our vision and we look forward to others joining the funding of this immensely valuable project.”

Other projects to now go ahead include constructing a major part of the North Fringe to Hengrove rapid transit system, £1.5million for more extra care housing schemes, £350,000 to improve broadband speeds in rural areas and £200,000 of targeted funding to resurface residential cul-de-sacs and estate roads.