Plans to transform an historic aircraft hangar into a new community centre on Bristol’s northern edge have been approved.
South Gloucestershire Council has given the green light to YTL Developments to transform the grade II-listed ‘Hangar 16U’ building - which housed Spitfires and Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War - into a new facility comprising a public library, gym and café.
The proposals are part of the major Brabazon development project, a huge new neighbourhood around the site of the former Filton Airfield – the birthplace of Concorde.
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Sebastian Loyn, planning and development director at YTL Developments said: “Hangar 16U has an incredible history and we can’t wait to bring this building into public use. As an early aircraft hangar in a pioneering era of aviation, it was at the centre of community life in North Bristol. The restoration work will transform it into a new local, social hub at the heart of the community once again.
“Whether it's meeting old friends in the café or making new friends at community workshops, Hangar 16U will provide something for everyone, a place for all ages and for all interests, for this generation and the next. The restoration will also accelerate our vision to create a truly sustainable new neighbourhood at Brabazon, where every daily essential – from food shopping, to schools, exercise classes to evenings out – is just a 15-minute walk or cycle away.”
The facility will also link up with the first collection of the thousands of new homes planned for Brabazon, with a new public square which could accommodate pop-up food stalls and markets. YTL previously said work to restore the building was due to start next year, with a target of opening in 2024.
The approval comes after YTL said a “major milestone” had been achieved in Brabazon’s construction, with one of the scheme’s landmark apartment buildings, known as ‘The Dials’ reaching its full height, ahead of a scheduled completion of summer 2024.
This week, the company also announced a new two year partnership with local community charity Southern Brooks, worth an initial £500,000. The organisations said the agreement would help fund an extra community development worker, and a range of activities designed to integrate the new neighbourhood with existing communities in the area.
Malaysia-based YTL has previously forecast the entire Brabazon project, which will also includes plans for a 17,000-seater music and events area and the South West’s largest urban park, could provide a £5bn boost to the local economy and support more than 30,000 jobs.
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