25 October 2016
One of the most popular airfields in southern England, Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey, may be turned into a housing estate with up to 4,500 homes, schools, businesses and a new link road. It follows planning permission for a new hard runway at the aerodrome being turned down following opposition from local protest groups.
The directors of Redhill Aerodrome say they have undertaken a thorough review of the aerodrome and its future prospects as a commercial enterprise. But without a hard runway, the range of aircraft that can land on the grass runways is becoming increasingly limited. Modern aeroplanes are not designed for grass airstrips.
“Furthermore, the grass runways are closed to all air traffic for as much as three months each year during periods of heavy rainfall,” continues the directors’ statement.
“Many of the buildings require investment to modernise them and bring them up to 21st century standards. This investment is difficult to justify without a long-term aviation based business plan. The Board has, with regret, come to the conclusion that the Aerodrome is most unlikely to be viable in the long term.”
The latest accounts for Redhill Aerodrome show a loss of £693,747 in 2015.
1 comment
Another one bites the dust. Soon there will be no where to land…