Strong rumours BAe Woodford site has been sold

That is interesting. Can’t find any trace of plans on-line though. I guess the existing 1928 hangars are to be demolished then.

That is interesting. Can’t find any trace of plans on-line though. I guess the existing 1928 hangars are to be demolished then.

very interesting news

http://www.avroheritage.com/Avro%20Heritage%20Goup%20News.html

very interesting news

http://www.avroheritage.com/Avro%20Heritage%20Goup%20News.html

Latest:XM603 to be preserved

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1468540_avro-heritage-could-host-spring-blockbuster-at-former-bae-woodford-site

I just wondered, what would people like to see happen to the site? – Thinking realistically, what other options are there for it?

Thought that Turkey Prescott designated Airfields as brown belt sites Firebex

Courtesy of today’s Manchester Evening News –

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1468479_jcb-heir-acquires-bae-woodford-for-100m

In summary –

[INDENT]Avro hopes to convert the south of the site into a film studio, while the north side would be used for housing. The runway will be retained and other leisure facilities it is planning include an equestrian centre and classic car showroom.[/INDENT]

I drive past every day and as a local resident I don’t think I’ve much need of an equestrian centre or classic car showroom! No mention as to why they’re keeping the runway, unless some of the more affluent Cheshire sect plan to fly-in to use these new facilities!:rolleyes:

Mike

PS – Affordable housing? If you live down the road in Alderley Edge then £2M is affordable!

Nothing can happen until June/July when the local authorities planning requirements for the area are released.

http://ww5.7622dev.org.uk/services/business/regendevelopment/regeneration/tcandmajordev/woodfordbaesite

http://www.woodfordcommunity.co.uk/news.htm

All very interesting reading it mentions protecting green belt etc.And also considerations such as affordable housing in the past it seems that affordable and profit don’t appear in the developers dictionary or at least not together.

Will the housing be affordable for the locals or are they going to be false looking 4 bedroom houses that no-one can afford?

I disagree with the comment about preserving more manufacturing facilities.

Although I am not saying this entire factory should be kept, little has been protected when it comes to aircraft production sites. The same for the car industry.
I agree it is difficult to keep, but the amount of de-industrialisation in the UK has been significant and I personally think little effort has been made to safe signficant sites. I think the large number of sites, denial about the loss of industry and the big influence of development companies on planning in this country are the main reasons for that.

Does anyone know if any of the suggested proposals plan to keep existing structures?

Nothing can happen until June/July when the local authorities planning requirements for the area are released.

http://ww5.7622dev.org.uk/services/business/regendevelopment/regeneration/tcandmajordev/woodfordbaesite

http://www.woodfordcommunity.co.uk/news.htm

Heritage & Development

Heritage and Development can work togther.

I believe that Brooklands had some assistance from the developers of Weybridge.

I know that the North East Aircaft Museum, albeit afetr some discussion, also had assistance from the re-development of Sunderland Airport.

Sadly, with an ever decreasing manufacturing industry the re-development will continue.

Fortunately the Woodford Heritage is well represented with examples of most of the Woodford Products already in preservation accross the country.

This may not be the most popular view but I think we need to concentrate on the existing collections rather than attempt to preserve more manufacturing facilities. Avro’s history is well represented in the museum at Manchester.

Almost inevitably the airfield will go the way of Filton and be swallowed up.

It current outlook is much better than being left to decay

and the hard core and rubble sold for motorway construction

The last time I passed through Poynton it looked like they were already digging the hole to accept it. 😉

Re the change of Mr Bamford’s company name, does the Avro Heritage Group still exist? and if so will it be getting mail meant for Mr Bamford?

The key fact is why change the company name to heritage ???smells somewhat to alleviate concerns over the historic side and the locals over what will really happen on the site perhaps ????.

Lets face it at the end of the day they will want to multiply the return on the investment by at least 25 plus.If it means using very loosely the wording Heritage and historic to get around redeveloping the site altogether and at the end of it you might get if you are very ,very lucky a small square of grass in the middle of what was once the airfield with a plaque some flowery words about the heritage and history of the site and that will probably be it .
Yes for a while to make it look good you may find a small centre squeezed into a corner of the development with some of the history displayed BUT for how long square footage is worth money to these guys.

A very good one to get through planning and around possible objections,Also if I am not mistaken if they use the posh words heritage,and historic etc,does that mean they get access to government and EU money as well to “Sympathetically ” develop the site !!!!!!.I wonder how much of a carrot has been waived and incentives promised to sell the site and get none enforceable promises about the sites future ???? Note the comment in the article about extending the current lease on the golf range and Heritage area
Just a minute I thought that they where Heritage ???

Call me cynical but hey where else have we seen this before ????? .They will be wanting to plant a wind farm down the runway between the houses next !!!!. Or is that planning application already being investigated.

I reckon the full unedited details of the sale and the planning would be very interesting reading but I don’t think we will ever get access to it fully.

I served my time there at Woodford and lived up the road very sad.

Come on lets have a fun sweep I reckon within the next 60 days the main production shop and hangars will be in the process of being leveled,the steel recycled and the hard core and rubble sold for motorway construction.

And within 90 days some revelations about the true plans will emerge !!!

Lets see who gets nearest .

Mike E

www.whirlwindfighterproject.org

Lots of words about not forgetting the heritage BUT reality in the print seems to say Housing,polo club,mmmm

SOLD…!

… to Mr Bamford, who has renamed his company Avro Heritage…

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/10771-bamford-completes-woodford-deal.html

Zeb

Pure speculation on my part but I wonder if Top Gear will then move north with the rest of the BBC operations?

I have my concerns as well but the statement

Woodford’s historic links with the aviation industry will be maintained with the retention of the runway and the development of a new heritage centre on the site of the original Avro hanger.

must be good news.

Good job i didn’t put any money on it…

bae-woodford-site-purchaser-revealed-as-jcb-heir

Not sure I like the smell of this one…

Zeb