Airbus is due to be given the go-ahead for one of the UK’s largest ever commercial schemes this week.
South Gloucestershire planners are being recommended to back the firm’s £300m bid to build 1.35m sq ft of offices, research facilities and manufacturing buildings in Filton.
Airbus is seeking outline consent to flatten 1.23m sq ft of buildings and begin a phase of new build starting with 146,000 sq ft of office and industrial space.
The Airbus site is located between the A38 in Filton and Filton Airfield, a mile south of Junction 16 of the M5 and its intersection with the M4 at Junction 15.
The company employs almost 6,500 people on site.
A report to councillors ahead of Thursday’s meeting states: “Future operations will be focussed on advanced technologies and materials, dictating a need for wide circulation spaces within and between manufacturing and assembly buildings.
“This needs to be addressed if Filton is to flourish and maintain its position as a world leader in the design and manufacture of high technology wings, fuel systems and landing gear.
“Wholesale relocation to another site is not commercially practical.”
References: EGi News 22/11/05
