22 December 2022
There’s a glimmer of hope for the now closed Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre at Newquay Airport. A potential site for the museum has been identified by the centre and its associated charity, the Cornwall Aerospace Education Trust.
The new site is situated adjacent to Cornwall Airport and will enable all of the Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre’s aircraft, exhibits and facilities to be transferred intact.
However, Cornwall Council, which operates the airport, still has to be persuaded to support the project and help source funds to make the move.
“The team at CAHC are now in regular contact with Cornwall Council to discuss this exciting project,” said a statement from CAHC.
“We are working on the challenging planning applications, preparing the sound business case that will be required if Cornwall Council are to support the project and on sourcing the funding that will be required to complete exciting project.”
The statement say that proposals are being developed for the 10-acre site to create a modern, interactive, aerospace visitor centre and multi-functional education facility.
“After so many months of facing what seemed like the sad end of our dream, this opportunity is the best thing that could have happened,” said the directors of CAHC.
“The new centre will be bigger, better and fully up-to-date. It will be an immersive celebration of the aviation heritage of Cornwall and Great Britain and present comprehensive, interactive STEM/aerospace education and training resources for every level, from primary school visits through to apprenticeships and on to the professional development of aerospace and MoD personnel.
“All the currently endangered aircraft will be saved and there is scope to grow and go on to create one of the UK’s best aerospace centres.”
Cornwall Council has yet to publicly comment on the proposal.
The Council has said in the past that “the airport team have reviewed CAHC proposals to remain on the airport site in the context of the latest plans to develop the airport estate, minimise the council’s subsidy and increase the economic benefit and high value employment opportunities for Cornwall. Against these criteria, the CAHC scores poorly”.
Examples of what the Council and Airport want to achieve can be seen here.
