Above: An ‘illustrative masterplan’ showing the proposed creation of an industrial park alongside a significantly smaller airfield
Proposals to develop Warwickshire’s Wellesbourne airfield (including the creation of an industrial estate and a ‘new realigned runway’) have been revealed by developers Gladman and Stoford, who have also launched a dedicated website.
The radical changes proposed would see the current airfield reduced in size and the re-allocation of infrastructure, including ‘new hangars, aircraft parking and maintenance facilities, along with a new control tower, a check-in-area, waiting lounge and café’. At the heart of the development, a ‘new realigned runway built to modern standards’ – essentially moved to one side – would allow for the construction of a new industrial park on the so-called ‘underused part of the existing site’.
In a statement, strategic land promoter Gladman and commercial property developer Stoford announced that the development of their proposals ‘will ensure the long-term future of the airfield’, adding that ‘the significant investment into the airfield will attract new business, training recreational flyers to the site, appealing to a future new commercial operator’.
The ‘new, high-quality employment park of approximately 210,000 sq m of industrial and logistics space’ is described as having the potential to ‘generate significant job opportunities’ and will be accessed independently from Stratford Road. Illustrated plans indicate 13 industrial units of varying sizes will be constructed, although the length of the realigned runway has yet to be released.
Wellesbourne Mountfield was originally opened in 1941 before being closed in 1964, when the original size was reduced. Now under civilian ownership, it is also home to a variety of companies, training organisations, Avro Vulcan XM655 and the Wellesbourne Wartime Museum.
Online responses to the proposed plans can be submitted here until Friday 22 September.
IMAGE: GLADMAN AND STOFORD
