Concorde to get new home at Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport has announced that its Concorde jet is to be housed in a new £1.1 million 'super hangar' and visitor centre.

The retired jet, which has been on display in Manchester since 2003, is being placed in the hangar for protection from the elements and to attract more visitors to the north-west airport.

Concorde is currently the main attraction at Manchester's aviation viewing park, where it also functions as a wedding venue where many couples have tied the knot.

Its new home, set to measure 68 metres by 38 metres and be constructed of glass and high-tech PVC, is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.

Andrew Holl, operations director at Manchester Airport, said: "I'm delighted that work is now going to be able to start on the hangar for this important piece of aviation history.

"Concorde is very close to our hearts here at Manchester Airport and we know that her many thousands of visitors feel passionately about her care for the future. We have been working on this proposal for the last year and are all very excited that the first spade will be going in the ground in a matter of weeks."

When it was operational, Concorde was capable of travelling at twice the speed of sound.