CONCORDE is to get a permanent home thanks to planning chiefs at South Gloucestershire.

The future of the Concorde 216 took a huge step forward last week when South Gloucestershire Council granted outline planning permission for an aviation museum at Cribbs Causeway.

The next priority is to raise the £10 million needed to complete the project.

In 2007 a charitable trust, called The Concorde Trust, was formed to push the scheme forward.

Trustee Jon Edwards, commercial director at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, said: "Obtaining planning consent for a site within a successful retail and leisure destination is a big piece of the jigsaw in securing a permanent and fitting home for Concorde. We are delighted.

"Our next major challenge is to appoint a Project Director and secure the necessary funding. We are confident that there is strong support to enable us to achieve this."

Once funding is in place, a museum to house the supersonic airliner will be built on a three-acre site behind The Venue at Cribbs Causeway and just north of Filton runway where the iconic plane was originally constructed and is now situated.

The proposed 40,000 sq ft visitor centre will be housed in a stylish new building with space for the historic 200 feet long airliner plus room for supporting exhibits and displays, a shop and a café. There will also be car parking and a coach drop-off point on site.

Around 100,000 people are expected to visit the Museum each year.

The site will be leased from JT Baylis Land Development Partnership, one of the many local organisations that has championed the campaign for the aviation museum.

Edward Whelan, managing director of JT Baylis & Co, said: "We are very proud to support this initiative to build a permanent home for this iconic masterpiece of British engineering, alongside its birthplace and the attractions at Cribbs Causeway."