Zyda Law have been instructed by a new action group formed to promote and preserve Wellesbourne Airfield from the threat of new housing development as part of Stratford on Avon District Council's Core Strategy.
Wellesbourne Airfield is a historic, busy operational airfield which benefits from two hard runways. It is home to a number of flight schools and other aviation related businesses together with the locally popular Wellesbourne Market. It is also home to a historic cold war Vulcan bomber which draws many visitors when it performs its fast taxi display.
The Core Strategy, which has been in the process of production since 2007, was recently subject to further consultation to identify sites for new housing in the district. Gladman, acting on behalf of the airfield's owners, submitted a proposal to replace the existing use of the site with 1,600 homes.
The Council's planning officers have not recommended the inclusion of the developer's proposal within the Core Strategy. At a meeting of the Council's cabinet on 12th May 2014, the decision was taking to submit the Proposed Core Strategy, which favours a new settlement at Gaydon/Lighthorne Heath over the proposed development of Wellesbourne Airfield, to the Planning Inspectorate.
Zyda Law is working with the action group to prepare representations to preserve the important function that Wellesbourne Airfield performs in supporting the local economy and recreation. The case will focus on explaining the significant social and economic benefits of the current use of the site, promote a vision for the future of the site and will address the shortcomings of the developer's proposal.
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