FlyPlymouth, the group formed to operate Plymouth City Airport, has ‘cautiously welcomed’ the news that planning inspectors have made no reference to the site being used for housing or commercial development.
After hearings earlier this year, inspectors have suggested modifications to the Plymouth and South West Devon Draft Joint Local Plan – but there was no mention of the airport.
“Cautious optimism but it looks like Plymouth is one stage closer to seeing its airport up and running again.”
Raoul Witherall, chief executive of FlyPlymouth said:
“This is encouraging as it implies that the attempt to attack the airport safeguarding policies has not been successful. Furthermore, at this stage, there is no longer recourse to attack those policies.
“None of this is finalised but as things stand, it looks as though Plymouth airport’s safeguarding has cleared the hearing process and is set to be included as part of the final Plan when that is adopted, probably early next year.
“Cautious optimism but it looks like Plymouth is one stage closer to seeing its airport up and running again.”
Raoul challenged some media reports which described the re-opening of the airport as a ‘dream.’
“This is no dream. The airport’s safeguarding is a rapidly hardening fact of local planning policy and that policy appears now to be on its way into the Joint Local Plan when that is adopted early next year.
“That means that the airport is a firm reality with the force of law behind it. There are commercial stages to progress through to seeing the airport reopened, but those stages will be based on the reality of planning policy which is supported by continually growing aviation and general aviation policy from central government finding its way into the Aviation Policy Framework and National Planning Policy Framework.”
He also pointed out that FlyPlymouth is not a campaign group, but an airport operator in waiting.
“Change is unlikely but it is possible.”
“The campaign stage of work was carried out by FlyPlymouth’s predecessor, Viable, resulting in the policy positions adopted by the City Council in 2014 at which point FlyPlymouth was created.
“All businesses campaign from time to time but FlyPlymouth has barely campaigned since it was created apart from Crowdfunding activities. It is however, ready with the experienced and competent team, the business plans, the customers and the resources required to deliver on council policy.
“FlyPlymouth has not claimed a victory here. We have welcomed the news with cautious optimism but made clear that this is a procedural stage within an ongoing process and any such claims would be precipitous. Change is unlikely but it is possible.”
Raoul added:
“In any case, there is little to celebrate in that Plymouth airport has been closed for almost seven years now, valuable jobs have been lost, businesses evicted and the local economy has suffered from the lack of connectivity and the uncertainty created as a result. This entire episode has been a damaging and regrettable act of self-harm for Plymouth and one we should look to put behind us as quickly as possible.
“Perhaps on the day when the airport reopens, new jobs are created and connectivity is resumed we can allow ourselves a moment of celebration, but not before.”
The airport’s current leaseholders, Sutton Harbour Holdings, have objected to the site being safeguarded for aviation use and instead have proposed the creation of a ‘garden city’, with homes, shops, leisure and other facilities.
