The biggest threat ever to British airfields?

I make no apologies for the dramatic headlines, nor (sorry mods) for posting this across a couple of Forums.

This message, which I got via Jeremy Davey at the PFA and John Broad of the Vintage Aircraft Club, is perhaps the scariest thing that could ever happen to British airfields – we are talking here about potential wipe-out!

If you value our hobby. PLEASE take a moment to read this and compile a response. The bureaucrats seem to have for once made a basic error. They’ve given us a whole fortnight in which to respond. Please make the most of it!!

(With thanks to John Broad who is leading this campaign.)

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM) has recently revised the Planning Policy Guidelines 3 (PPG3), making them Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) and including a small change that directly affects all airfields in the UK.

The definition of ‘Brownfield’ in PPS3 Housing, Annex A, has been rewritten to define airfields, and all the land within the curtilage, as Brownfield instead of Greenfield.

As there is an emphasis on Brownfield development at present, and much formerly-industrial brownfield land is contaminated (unlike airfields), you will see that this change presents a severe threat to airfields. Indeed, the recently successful defence of Bicester Airfield used the exclusion of airfields from Brownfield, together with preservation orders on the buildings, to ensure the relocation of a planned development.

We would like you to make representations to the OPDM to oppose the deletion of the exclusion from the definition of Brownfield in PPS3. Points you might like to make are:

1) The few remaining airfields in the UK are under threat from councils and developers and this clause has been effective in protecting these amenities

2) Because it would increase the value of the land, the effect of this change would be to close all airfields used for recreational and sport purposes

3) These airfields are not eyesores left over from an industrial past which need cleaning up

4) Many of these airfields are grass rather than paved, and much of the land which is not runways or taxiways is used for agriculture – development of them will be tantamount to development of the greenbelt

5) Airfields are attractive to developers because they are uncontaminated and therefore much easier and cheaper to develop, with a consequent increase in profit margin

6) The focus of brownfield development should not be on predominantly rural facilities such as these, but on the contaminated remnants of industry which desperately need cleaning up

To make your representation, you can contact:

Alex Lessware
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Planning Policies Division (2)
Zone 4/J5
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU

Telephone: 020 7944 6288
Fax 020 7944 3949
Email: [email]pps3consultation@odpm.gsi.gov.uk[/email]

Please remember to write as an individual, your letter will have more impact that way. You may also want to copy your letter to your MP for information.

Finally, just a note to advise you that the deadline for responses is 27th February 2006.

Thanks once again for all your support