YTL Developments has started work on Hangar 16U, a new hub for the community housed in an historic listed aircraft hangar.
The developers say that construction work on Hangar 16U at Brabazon – the new neighbourhood being built on the former Filton Airfield – is the latest evidence of the ambition to put people and communities at the heart of the new district.
Hangar 16U was once a hive of activity, assembling and maintaining aircraft in the airfield’s aviation heyday. A community of engineers and designers were driven by a common purpose, creating new technologies that shaped the future of flight. Now this brick-built structure will have new life as a local, sociable community hub at Brabazon that will serve residents.
Designed by Bristol-based architects Ferguson Mann, the restoration plans ensure the preservation of the hangar’s unique features, including its iconic Belfast trusses and intricate red brickwork.
Construction work is well under way, with the hangar’s original doors having been removed ready to be restored and rehung. The work is expected to last approximately 18 months, meaning Hangar 16U should open in summer / autumn 2025.
Sebastian Loyn, planning and development director at YTL Developments, said: “Hangar 16U’s restoration embodies the vision for Brabazon. As the birthplace of Concorde, this former airfield was the centre of a community that changed the world. Our aim is to live up to that legacy by reimagining this historic hangar as a vibrant social hub, returning it to the heart of the community again.
“The restoration of Hangar 16U is another sign of our commitment to the community and to creating a truly sustainable neighbourhood at Brabazon.
“Our vision is to create the space, connectivity and opportunities that will drive local prosperity for the next 100 years.”