15 October 2024
Wellesbourne Airfield will stay open for flying. That’s the crucial statement in a planning application to develop the airfield site.
Developers Gladman, working with the Littler family which owns the airfield, have submitted a detailed application to Stratford-in-Avon District Council (SADC) for a mixed aviation and industry site.
“The Application aims to revitalise the Airfield and secure its long-term future,” says the introduction to the application. “It would provide a new runway and enhanced facilities to attract additional recreation and business usage, more airfield tenants and a new operator.
Masterplan for the new look Wellesbourne Airfield
“The airfield activities would be consolidated to the western half of the Site, including the new runway, the change of use of agricultural land to airfield parking areas and enhanced existing aviation-related facilities.
“This would then allow for the non-aviation related areas on the north-western and eastern parts of the Site to be developed for employment purposes.”
The application makes it clear that the airfield will be remain operational throughout the construction period.
The developers are seeking full planning permission for the creation of a new runway and associated taxiways on the Site, and the covered viewing area for the refurbished and enhanced café.
The rest of the application is seeking outline planning permission for other areas of the site including:
The new hard surfaced runway would meet CAA requirements for a Code 2 runway, says the application. It would be orientated for the prevailing wind and to minimise approach and departure aircraft traffic over populated and sensitive areas.
The new runway would have a licensed length of 917 metres (same as the existing runway 18/36) and be 23m wide, plus 10m tarmac overrun at either end with the associated safety strip along the runway sides 40m from the runway centreline. A runway safety area (RESA) would extend 60m past the end of the runway at both its ends.
Hard surfaced taxiways will be provided to connect the new runway to the existing taxiways on the Site. Full structural and construction details will be agreed with the CAA and SADC prior to the commencement of the new runway’s construction.
A consultation period on the planning application runs until 13 November 2024. It can be found on the planning section of the SADC website, reference 24/02333/OUT.
