Don’t delay, set aside some time and react to the council’s plan to destroy the airfield. Deadline: 23 January 2026
5 January 2026
Popham Matters, the group leading the campaign to save the airfield from being turned into a housing estate, has issued a last minute update: There’s an easier way to respond to the council consultation.
It’s important because there’s just today, Thursday 22 January, and tomorrow, Friday, up to 5pm to respond.
Brian Lloyd of Popham Matters said, “I have just found out that you can submit an objection to the Consultation without having to tackle the Basingstoke & Deane District Council portal.
“You can email your objections directly to [email protected] .”
Brian’;s advice is to add this heading to your email: Objection to Local Plan Policy SPS 5.8 Popham Garden Village
And to start your email with: “Dear Basingstoke and Deane Council,”
Then add your message. Click here for inspiration if you need it.
IMPORTANT: add your name, address and postcode or your email will be ignored.
The battle to save Popham Airfield has started with the local council confirming that it wants to build 4,250 houses – the new Popham Garden Village – and infrastructure on the green belt site.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council released their new Draft Local Plan on Friday 28 November and launched an eight-week public consultation, from now until 23 January 2026.
The campaign group, Popham Matters, which is fighting to protect the site as an active airfield, has produced a ‘quick and easy guide’ on how to make a submission to the consultation.
They emphasise that even if you responded to the previous 2024 consultation, it’s vital to do it again.
“Please do it again, as this is a new, separate, consultation, and the total number of objections carries weight,” said Brian Lloyd, spokesperson for Popham Matters.
“Rather than just repeat what you said last time, you can change your objection so that it counts as two separate objections, rather than one repeated.
“And if you have more than one reason to want to save Popham, please submit them as two (or more) separate objections.”
To help with submissions, Popham Matters has analysed the draft local plan.
Brian Lloyd again: “We have compiled a list of our reasons why we think Popham is the wrong place to build housing. Please don’t copy and paste, tell them why Popham Airfield Matters to you in your own words.
“You may also find new issues and concerns in this amended Draft Local Plan. It’s important that the council gets as many different points of view as possible.
“Remember that a factual argument is much harder for them to dismiss than a purely emotional response.”
Links to the Revised Local Plan, a list of Popham Airfield’s key assets, and the Popham relevant ‘highlights’ from the Local Plan and its supporting documents, can be found here.
