Concorde's museum plan rejected by British Airways

Concorde 216 - or Alpha Foxtrot - was the last of the fleet to fly when Concorde was withdrawn from service

A preservation group's £2m proposal to house the last Concorde to fly has been rejected by British Airways (BA).

Save Concorde Group submitted plans last year to place the jet under cover for the first time in a decade.

BA has announced it has selected the Bristol Aero Collection Trust as its "preferred bidder" to take over the lease of Concorde 216 or Alpha Foxtrot.

The trust said its £13m heritage centre scheme is now the subject of an application for lottery funding.

Concorde 216 - or Alpha Foxtrot - was the last of the fleet to fly when Concorde was withdrawn from service by British Airways in 2003 due to increased running costs.

The jet has been at Filton, near Bristol, since 2003 but was closed to the public in October 2010 for maintenance.

According to Ben Lord, of Save Concorde Group, it is more important than ever that the aircraft is "put under cover very, very quickly".

'Time is critical'

"We feel our proposal was the proposal which would enable Concorde to be put under cover in a very short space of time," he said.

"Bearing in mind at the end of this year she has been outside and exposed to the elements for nearly 10 years.

"So, to us, time is now of critical essence."

A spokesman for BA said the company was "pleased that progress is being made in ensuring a permanent home for Concorde Alpha Foxtrot".