25 February 2025
The battle to save Nottingham City Airport, known as Tollerton to many pilots, has had a significant boost from the Department for Transport (DfT).
In a letter to one of the campaigners, the DfT’s Aviation Directorate confirmed that General Aviation airfields are ‘important’ and that local planners must, by law, maintain the UK’s network of GA airfields.
The letter says:
“I want to assure you that we recognise the importance of General Aviation (GA) airfields to the aviation sector and their local communities, and the potential impact that new infrastructure and developments can have. We are continuing to engage with the GA community on how we can best support the sector going forward.
“Ministers do not routinely intervene in local planning. Any consideration of directions to modify local plans will be made by the local planning authority in accordance with relevant legislation.
“The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) recently consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF outlines that planning policies should recognise the importance of maintaining a national network of general aviation airfields, and their need to adapt and change over time – taking into account their economic value in serving business, as well as for leisure, training, and emergency service needs.
“I hope this reply is helpful.”
Sarah Deacon is one of the leading and most vocal of the campaigners to save Nottingham City Airport. She said, “Here is a recent letter, to one of our supporters, from the Minister of Aviation’s department in the DfT, again VERY clearly setting out the expectation that planning authorities will maintain our nationwide network of General Aviation airfields.
“There is clear recognition here of the value that General Aviation airfields bring at both a local and a national level.
“Even more questions to ask of our elected officials… why was the airfield included in the Local Plan for Rushcliffe without consideration or evaluation of the contribution it makes to the local and national economy?
“The value of this place, both now and in the future, clearly outweighs the argument to close it and build houses on it, when Rushcliffe can comfortably meet its housing targets without it.
“Homes can be built in many places, airfields can not!”
