16 May 2025
Airport wins planning battle! Shock news but Blackbushe Airport has indeed won a long-running case to deregister part of the aerodrome so it can modernise the facilities for the good of General Aviation.
The news was announced yesterday that Blackbushe Airport had received the decision of the Planning Inspectorate to deregister approximately 35.3 acres of the active aerodrome from Yateley Common, and replace with 35.3 acres of land at Cottage Farm, Yateley.
“The decision in favour of Blackbushe Airport brings an end to six decades of uncertainty regarding its future,” said a statement from the airport.
“The airport is in desperate need of substantial investment, and this outcome paves the way for an exciting aviation development.
“The process to reach this point has taken 10 years, and a great deal of hard work from many supporters, users, and employees of the airport (past and present). We thank all of them for their outstanding contributions.”
Hangars and maintenance facilities for General Aviation aircraft are part of the plan for the future. Image: Blackbushe Airport
The current owners, led by Sir Peter Ogden, who bought the airport in 2015, have a vision of Blackbushe as a General Aviation centre of excellence, supporting a wide range of activities. The full vision for the future is available at www.blackbushe.com/vision
“We will now focus our attention to the rationalisation of the airport layout and the design,” said the airport.
“This will include plans for hangarage and other facilities the airport needs. We hope to be able to share more of these details with the Aviation Community in the coming months.
Blackbushe Airport now. Photo: Blackbushe Airport
“The first phase will include a group of General Aviation hangars, which we will look to deliver using our Permitted Development rights whilst working on a full planning application for other elements of the vision. We hope the first phase of hangarage can be delivered within 12 months.
“Over the coming weeks we will be working with contractors and stakeholders to comply with the order of the Planning Inspector to open up and integrate the land at Cottage Farm with the surrounding common, and to install the required signage and information boards.
You can read the inspector’s full decision here.
