Filton housing gets approval

English Heritage visited the site a week or so ago & examined the 3 combined RFC aeroplane sheds & the two small adjacent hangars (currently used by the Air Ambulance & to store airfield vehicles). Rumour is that they have been / will be listed & will form the nucleus of a Bristol themed aircraft museum (not holding my breath, but the location could be a winner if it ever went ahead) which will incorporate the decaying Concorde. If you’ve ever wondered what those aeroplane sheds look like inside, they’re the same as the ones at Duxford (just not so well maintained).

As ever, various rumours persist regarding potential buyers of the site who may continue to use it as an airfield, but the generally accepted view is that flying will cease next December. How long it takes for redevelopment to begin is anyones guess. I foresee several years of stagnation & decay before the site bulldozed & covered in “social housing”.

Listing means nothing. The main building (up by the link road) is covered in scaffolding and sheeting and looks very sad. I would not be the least suprised if it does not burn down one day. That seems to be the fate of a lot of listed buildings in the South West.

No idea what happens in the Braazon hanger perhaps some one could tell me.

The Good news
The main building (Pegasus House) is due to be restored as an Airbus conference facility as part of the north site Airbus enclave redevelopment. Work should start shortly so hopefully it will make it through the next few months.

The Bad news
The Brab’ Sheds are empty and are corroding, in places really badly i.e. the main support piles. Word is that BAESYSTEMS have already costed there demolition………I’m sure its just a matter of time.

same company!??

Going the same way as Plymouth airport then!!Plymouth will then become a dormitary town of unemployed passed through on the way to holidays in Cornwall!!!

Sad and wrong, but I guess that is what happens if you loose the industry.

What will happen to the Brabazon hangars? Are they being used? Is Concorde currently stored there? Are they listed?

Would be great if they could use part of those hangars to display the Concorde and Bristol Aero Collection.

Listing means nothing. The main building (up by the link road) is covered in scaffolding and sheeting and looks very sad. I would not be the least suprised if it does not burn down one day. That seems to be the fate of a lot of listed buildings in the South West.

No idea what happens in the Braazon hanger perhaps some one could tell me.

Concorde sits out in all the elements and has done so since touch down. The Council have made proposals for a home for it but nothing ever happens here on any scheme. I cite rapid transport(trams) and improved transport links(Bristol-Portishead passenger rail) just a couple to start with.

The A38-Cribbs Causeway spur road opened last year and built by the developers of Charlton Hayes housing estate is very interesting. On each roundabout there is an exit built up to the airfield perimeter which extends 20 or so feet and stops. Funny that as there was no mention of closing the place and building house there when that was put in.

Sad and wrong, but I guess that is what happens if you loose the industry.

What will happen to the Brabazon hangars? Are they being used? Is Concorde currently stored there? Are they listed?

Would be great if they could use part of those hangars to display the Concorde and Bristol Aero Collection.

There have been proposals for houses since the development of the retail park at Cribbs Causeway in the early 1980’s.

A lack of foresight stopped the development of Filton at the end of the Concorde programme long before the building of Bradley Stoke and other developments around the airfield.

The site is prime development area siting next to the M4/M5 junction and the Paddington to Cardiff Rail Line.

Don’f forget its all part of the big plan for this country to only consist of Housing/Tesco and HSBC banks.

Graham

I still can’t get over the fact that it was never made into Bristol Airport over Lulsgate, a hilltop site whose expansion is limited by topography, is prone to fog, is much further from the centre of the city, and is nowhere near a rail link or motorway junction (all of which Filton is better for)

I suppose that kills the dream of an integrated Bristol aircraft collection based around Concorde, the Britannia at Kemble, plus the Bolingbroke and other Bristol Aero Collection exhibits currently at Kemble.

Disgusting!! 😡