Lottery millions secure new home for Concorde

Plans for a new aerospace centre and home for Concorde at Filton airfield have been awarded nearly £5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Bristol Aero Collection Trust has won a £4.7million grant to create a centre telling the story of the birthplace of British aviation history and the development of Concorde.

From the pioneers of air travel in 1910, through the supersonic era and into the future the new centre will tell the crucial role that Bristol played in the development of air travel.

Home for Concorde

Concorde 216, the last British Concorde assembled at the Filton site, will finally have a home 11 years after returning to the city where it was designed, tested and produced.

Lloyd Burnell, project director of the Trust said, they were delighted: “The Bristol Aerospace Centre at Filton, which provides a permanent home for Concorde, will be a fantastic attraction for the region.

“The fascinating collections, many of which will be made accessible to the public for the first time, include thousands of important objects and nationally significant archives which trace over 100 years of technical innovation and engineering brilliance, along with the social history of the people who’ve worked in the industry.”

Iain Gray, chair of the Trust added: “Concorde was largely designed and built at Filton, with the first British flight taking off in 1969 and the final supersonic flight of any Concorde in the world landing at the airfield on November 26, 2003. She has been tremendously well cared for by Airbus in the intervening time, but this grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund is a great anniversary present for this icon of British design and innovation.”

Mark Stewart, Airbus general manager and human resources director said: “Airbus have been the custodians of Concorde since its last landing in 2003. It is great news that funding is secured for the heritage museum and learning centre; and we look forward to being able to move Concorde under cover and making it accessible to many people in the future.”

Steeped in history

Bristol entrepreneur Sir George White established the British and Colonial (later, Bristol) Aeroplane Company in 1910. 

It went on to employ thousands of people in the region and around the world. The centre will, for the first time, chronicle the social history of those who worked at Filton and the impact of the industry on the wider area.

Nerys Watts, head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: “From First World War fighter planes to the ground-breaking Concorde, British aviation was born and bred at Filton Airfield. 

“People have a deep connection and pride in the technical innovations that have come out of the Bristol area, and we particularly welcome plans to record the unique stories of the airfield and its workforce.”

Inspiration

A major aim of the centre is to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, technicians, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Paul Craig from Rolls-Royce said: “We are delighted with this decision. As well as showcasing Concorde and the tremendous contribution that this region has made to aviation, we believe that this Centre has a vital educational role in helping to inspire the next generation of aeronautical pioneers.

New museum

The project will conserve 9.5 acres of Filton Airfield, along with two listed hangars dating back to World War I.

They will be developed into the aerospace industrial museum and a new building will create a permanent home for Concorde. The total cost of the project is £16 million and Bristol Aero Collection Trust has already received support from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, South Gloucestershire Council as well as a number of local and national charitable trusts and major donors.

The Bristol Aerospace Centre is expected to open in 2017.