Wellesbourne Airfield: council stops demolition

BREAKING NEWS Stratford Council has taken steps to prevent the owners of Wellesbourne Airfield demolishing buildings on the site.

The council says it will remove permitted development rights on the airfield immediately. It will also enter into negotiations to buy the airfield – and if a deal can’t be achieved, then it will start the process to compulsory purchase the site.

The decisions were taken today at a cabinet meeting of the council.

Cllr Chris Saint, leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said, “I’m pleased that colleagues have unanimously approved this. It helps support the robustness of our local plan and should allow business operations of the airfield. Should they wish to demolish any buildings on site, the owners would now need to apply for planning permission.”

The official recommendations are as follows:

1 That a Direction is made with immediate effect under Article 4 of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 to remove the permitted development rights over Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield (The Site) (which includes the provision for demolition)and that the Head of Governance and Democracy be authorised to draft and implement the Direction immediately.

2. Subject to Council approving an appropriate amendment to the Policy and Budgetary Framework as identified on this agenda (Item 3), authority be given to the Head of Community and Technical Services, in consultation with the Leader and the Head of Governance and Democracy to:-

a. Enter into negotiations and take any necessary further steps with the owners of the Site to agree the purchase of the Site;

In the event that (a) is not achievable, to commence and take any necessary further steps to compulsorily purchase the Site, in accordance s226 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

Stratford District Council meeting notes