THE soon to be redundant Filton Airfield could be used to help meet the district’s housing need and provide a permanent home for Concorde.

A report released by South Gloucestershire Council into the potential future uses of the airfield has said the 142-hectare site could take up to 3,500 new homes.

The report has been written in response to BAE System’s announcement that the company plans to close the 100-year-old airfield by the end of next year.

The local authority has now launched a six-week public consultation on its proposals for the site, which include housing, employment opportunities, enhancing public transport, improving the road network, as well as schools, open spaces and community facilities.

South Gloucestershire Council was told to write its Filton Airfield Position Statement by a government inspector currently reviewing the authority’s Core Strategy, its planning blueprint for the next 20 years.

The council submitted its Core Strategy for inspection before BAE System announced its intention to sell the airfield.

The authority said in its report: "The potential availability of the airfield for redevelopment does however, provide an opportunity to re-appraise how the area functions and help define a long term future for the site."

As well as thousands of homes South Gloucestershire Council is also proposing the airfield site could provide a location for the much longed for Concorde museum.

The museum project received a blow last month when its application for a £2.9 million grant from the Lottery was turned down.

South Gloucestershire Council is consulting on its proposals for Filton Airfield until Friday, July 29.

Anyone wanting to comment on the proposals should respond by email to planningLDF@southglos.gov.uk or post to South Gloucestershire Council, Spatial Planning Team, PO Box 2081, South Gloucestershire, BS35 9BP.

To read the proposals in full visit, www.southglos.gov.uk/corestrategy