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FIGHTING TO PRESERVE NORTH WEALD
AIRFIELD FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND AS A LASTING
MEMORIAL TO THOSE PAST.
North Weald Airfield has, for many years, been the subject of speculation with regard to its future. Various plans
have been put forward including a waste incineration plant, lorry park and a holding
centre for asylum seekers. However the main threat has always been that of the housing developer's bulldozer.
North Weald Airfield Users Group (NWAUG) was
established to give the airfield and its
users a voice and to rally support to fight
plans to redevelop the site for housing and
preserve the airfield and its history for
future generations. |
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Move mouse over picture... the future for North Weald Airfield? |
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Click on the
above Twitter & Facebook banners for the most recent
posts and latest developments relating to
the future North Weald Airfield. See below
for older news and campaign history.
SEPTEMBER 2014
As of September 2014,
the situation relating to the future of
North Weald Airfield is as follows:
The
Airfield's Owners, Epping Forest
District Council, decided in August 2013
that there should be mixed development
of the land adjacent to the airfield (to
the East and also some of the land
within the airfield boundary), while
retaining aviation for the time being.
EFDC is now consulting on the nature and
extent of this development which it is
proposed should include both residential
and commercial aspects. NWAUG and other
supporters of the airfield believe that
any development close to or on the
airfield should be planned in such as
way that it is not in any way in
conflict with current or future aviation
operations and other leisure activities,
but should rather compliment these. We
believe aviation itself should be
promoted and the airfield licensed to
allow commercial operations, such as
business aviation and air taxis to
operate, thus helping the airfield
become more sustainable. Local people
have been consulted on how the village
of North Weald up to the boundaries of
the airfield could be shaped in future.
However very little information relating
to plans for developments on the
airfield itself has so far been made
public by EFDC or its consultants,
Savills. Meanwhile EFDC is considering
bringing in a 3rd party company to take
over the day to day operation of the
airfield, although it is proposed that
this only be on the basis of a 3-5 year
agreement, which still leaves a question
mark over the long term future of the
aerodrome as an active flying site.
North Weald Airfield Users Group, other
supporters of the airfield and local
residents groups are monitoring the
situation and pressing for early sight
of any plans and proposals so that we
can evaluate and comment on them as
appropriate. Please keep checking our
posts on social media for any new
developments.
AUGUST 2013
The recent decision
by Epping Forest District Council's
Cabinet Committee to retain aviation a
North Weald Airfield and only permit
housing and similar developments on land
adjacent to the airfield is in danger of
being overturned. A meeting of EFDC's
Overview and Scrutiny committee
scheduled for 27th August 2013 could see
demands for the decision to be
overturned in favour of developing the
entire airfield for housing and other
developments, resulting in the loss of
aviation...and the airfield!
Here is a link to
EFDC's original press release relating
the decision to adopt "OPTION 3"
(continued aviation combined with
development on land adjacent to the
active airfield site):
http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2013/07/councillors-support-north-weald-homes-and-aviation-option/
At the time of
writing, we understand that the Overview
and Scrutiny Committee meeting will not
be held in private session (at least not
entirely) so that the public may be
permitted to observe proceedings,
although direct contributions (unless
lodged through one of the councillors in
advance) are not allowed.
We would urge
supporters of North Weald Airfield to
turn up at EFDC's Council Offices in
Epping on the date of the meeting to
make their presence felt. NWAUG will
co-ordinate this show of the strength of
opinion to retain the airfield with
other local groups including the North
Weald Residents Association. We will
post timings and any further relevant
information as soon as we have it.
SEPTEMBER 2012
EPPING FOREST DISTRICT
COUNCIL
LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION
YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IS REQUIRED!
Epping Forest District Council (also owner
of North Weald Airfield) is currently
conducting a public consultation on the
shaping of the "LOCAL PLAN" which should
become a template for development in the
district for the foreseeable future. The
consultation period runs from now until
15th October 2012. Some background
information can be found on EFDC's website
here:
http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2012/08/have-your-say-on-the-local-plan-community-choices/
Once again, a series of options have been
proposed for North Weald Airfield, ranging
from closing the airfield and developing it
for "other uses" to developing it as a
centre for business/corporate aviation.
The document containing these options can be
found here:
http://plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Northgate/LDF/LDFExplorer/Home.aspx
and the subsequent link here:
http://plan1.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/northgate/ldf/ldfexplorer/DocumentList.aspx
(there may be issues with the
Google Chrome browser, in which case we
recommend using Internet Explorer or another
browser)
The best way to find the sections relating
to the airfield and surrounding area is to
search for "North Weald" (normally CRTL+F in
most browsers) and enter "north weald". The
most relevant parts are under "Chapter 4:
Options for growth and distribution of
development".
Once you register on the EFDC consultation
website you can comment on the various
options being presented by clicking on the
appropriate links.
You may also wish to suggest further
options. For example, perhaps an
additional option should be to develop part
of the airfield for business aviation (but
not the entire airfield as appears to be the
suggestion in "OPTION 3"). This
balanced development could be achieved
working with the existing aviation tenants,
would be more in keeping with the current
activities and history of the aerodrome and
most likely be an acceptable solution
for local residents, rather than a "full
blown" dedicated business airport. It
would require a lower level of licensing,
require less investment to achieve, yet
would still provide the additional income
needed to make the airfield less dependent
on the Saturday market for its financing.
Please visit the EFDC website and make your
voice heard!
Thanks for your support.
NWAUG September 2012
MARCH 2011
HALCROW CONSULTANTS PREPARE PROPOSALS
FOR
NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD FOR EPPING FOREST
DISTRICT COUNCIL
After many years of pressure from NWAUG
and other interested parties, EFDC
appointed consulting company, HALCROW to
prepare a study which the Council refers
to as an "Aviation Intensification
Study". The remit has been to look
specifically at ways in which the
aviation aspects of the airfield could
be developed to provide more revenue.
We see the healthy development of a
balanced mix of aviation as crucial to
ensuring the airfield's survival and to
provide a viable alternative to
development for housing and some of the
other less desirable options that have
been put forward in recent years. HALCROW have met with aviation tenants,
NWAUG, various operators, local
residents groups and other interested
parties in order to gather the necessary
information and opinions to allow them
to prepare their study. This study
is due to be presented to the Council's
North Weald Airfield and Asset
Management Cabinet Committee on Tuesday
22nd March at EFDC's Civic Offices in
Epping High Street. We understand
this meeting is open to the public.
SEPTEMBER 2009
DEVELOPERS TARGET NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD
AGAIN
AS PART OF REVIEW OF THE EAST OF ENGLAND
PLAN
It was recently brought to the attention
of the North Weald Airfield Users Group
that yet another consultancy period is
currently ongoing, as a result of EERA's
call for sites and the review of the
East of England plan to extend its scope
to
2031.
The general information page on the EERA
webpage is here:
http://www.eera.gov.uk/What-we-do/developing-regional-strategies/east-of-england-plan/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031/
It states that the public consultation
runs from 2nd September to
5 pm on 24th November 2009.
This appears to have been kept very low
key, as we received no information about
this from the powers that be and it has
not been mentioned in the press.
Although the consultation document
itself
http://eera-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning/rssto2031scenarios?pointId=903074#document-903074
does not make a specific reference to
North Weald,
two developers have submitted proposals
relating to North Weald Airfield and
surrounding land amounting to a total of
10,000 new homes as part of the "Call
for Sites"! Both proposals were
submitted AFTER the Examination in
Public of 2006 on the EEP and the
Planning Inspector's decision that North
Weald Airfield was not a suitable site
for such a large scale development.
An opinion which the Government agreed
with, in its final published version of
the East of England Plan. These
proposals therefore completely ignore
the overwhelming opinion of those who
responded to the earlier consultations
and the decisions, made at the highest
level, which resulted from it.
The
two proposals call for 4000 and 6000
houses respectively on and adjacent to
the airfield. One of these was reported
in the local press at the time, the
other not.
The following document lists the
responses.
http://www.eera.gov.uk/GetAsset.aspx?id=fAAzADIANQA5AHwAfABGAGEAbABzAGUAfAB8ADAAfAA1
If you search for "North Weald",
there are two entries in a table, CP57
and CP79.
The full list of proposals for Essex is
here:
http://www.eera.gov.uk/What-we-do/developing-regional-strategies/east-of-england-plan/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031-call-for-proposals/essex-proposals-received/
CP57 was submitted by Land
Securities who are major UK developers,
apparently with some collaboration with
Drivers Jonas. Their proposal is for
4000 new homes on the airfield.
Worryingly they also refer to North
Weald on their own website:
http://www.landsecurities.com/ls03.asp?PageID=417
talking almost as though the development
of the site is a foregone conclusion.
Although they mention some continued
aviation in their proposal, we do not
believe this would realistically be
compatible with an additional 4000
houses on the site and is quite possibly
a red herring in an attempt to appease
airfield supporters.
CP79 is a submission by
Lend/Lease
http://www.lendlease.com/ in
collaboration with Bidwells
http://www.bidwells.co.uk. This
proposes 300 houses by 2021 with a total
of 6000 by 2031. Again this ignores the
fact that a major development of North
Weald was rejected in the final draft of
the EEP whose scope was originally to be
until 2021.
Full details and supporting documents on
both of these proposals, which appear
date from the end of 2008 can be
accessed by clicking the full list of
proposals for Essex at the link above.
The North Weald Airfield Users Group has
been digesting all of the detail and
documentation and feels that a response
and comment during the consultation
period is appropriate as well as calling
for our supporters to make their
voices heard before the 24th
November deadline. Please go to the
EERA website at the address shown
for details on how to respond.
As we have expressed, until EFDC commit
themselves to a clear strategy for
development of the airfield primarily
for aviation, business and leisure use,
then the threat of re-development for
housing or other less desirable
developments will remain.
March 2009
Proposed Gypsy and Travellers Site on North Weald
Airfield
NWAUG is working closely with other local groups, in
partcular the North Weald Residents Association in
relation to the proposals for a large gypsy and
traveller site on the Eastern edge of the airfield.
Go the the
NWRA website for more details.
May 2007
GOVERNMENT SAYS NO TO AIRFIELD HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT
The North Weald Airfield Users Group (NWAUG)
is now delighted to inform you that
on Monday 12 May the East of England
Regional Assembly, at long last,
published their final version of the
East of England Plan.. The NWAUG has
studied this not inconsiderable document
and are pleased to say that it contains
no recommendations for any development
at North Weald Airfield.
This is the best possible outcome we
could have hoped for and it therefore
looks as if the future of North Weald
Airfield is secure for the time being.
In
particular we would like to express our
appreciation to Peter Kember of Kember,
Louden, Williams, who represented us at
the Examination in Public (EiP) last
year. Without his superb presentation,
and your financial support for it, the
result of the EiP would probably have
been very different.
The Users Group will, of course,
continue to monitor the situation at
North Weald and in the mean time we
would like to thank all of you who have
assisted us with letter writing, support
and fund raising over the last few
years.
Without your help the outcome would have
been unthinkable. Thank you from
everyone at the NWAUG
The North
Weald Airfield Users Group.
***
ENQUIRY IN PUBLIC (EiP) REPORT
REJECTS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD!
The Inspector's report following
the Examination in Public, carried out at the
beginning of this year, was published on 22nd June
2006. The most significant aspect, in relation
to North Weald Airfield, is that the panel found the
proposed development of 6000 house on the site to be
inappropriate. There are several references to
North Weald in the Report but one of the most
significant is:
"One distinguishing feature for NW is that the
Airfield would form a major previously developed
site although the full proposals being promoted by
the developers Lend Lease also involve significant
Greenfield land. The Airfield is currently in use,
however, and a persuasive case was made for its
retention for General and Business Aviation and on
account of its historical value."
The Panel also shed doubt on the idea that
satellite developments, like the one proposed for
North Weald, would assist with the re-generation of
Harlow. In its conclusions, the panel has
recommended the exclusion of "growth" at North Weald
and the consequent deletion of all policies in this
respect. It also recommends a reduction in the
number of houses in the Epping Forest District
Council area.
These recommended amendments to the Plan, now go to
the Government for further consultation . If
the Reports findings are implemented, then the
airfield will, for the time being at least, have
been given a reprieve, which should allow interested
parties to focus on its shaping its future based
around the existing aviation and leisure activities
currently carried out on the airfield site.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported
the campaign so far, and, although this is certainly
good news, it may not be the end of the struggle, so
we will keep the pressure on to make sure the
Report's findings are acted upon and will monitor
developments accordingly.
***
PUBLIC ENQUIRY
HEARING ON NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD
14th / 15th FEBRUARY 2006 at
9.00am.
Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth, SG6 4ET
Those of you who attended the
hearing in Letchworth or who listened in on
the webcast
will be aware that NWAUG's
appointed spokesman, Mr Peter Kember of
Kember Loudon Williams Planning Consultants
made a very strong representation on behalf
of the airfield, putting forward a
compelling and well founded case for its
retention as an aviation and leisure
facility. He backed up his arguments
with facts and data relating to developments
in General Aviation in the region and the
lack of alternative sites that could
accommodate the activities which currently
take place at North Weald. His statement
included quotes from the
Halcrow Report of 2002 which clearly
identified unique North Weald's potential
for Business and General Aviation. Mr Kember
also countered several claims and arguments
made by the various developers who have
drawn up plans to redevelop the airfield for
housing.
A
transcript summary of Mr Kember's submission
can be read by clicking here.
Further details are also available in the
recent
Press Release (click here).
***
The Department for
Culture, Media and Sport and English Heritage have
included North Weald Airfield in a list of historic
aviation sites which it believes should be protected
for future generations. Details can be found
by following this link:
Link to Government
Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport Press Release
Although the full
consequences of North Weald Airfield's inclusion in
this list are uncertain, we urge our supporters to
contact the Department for Culture and also English
Heritage to seek clarification and to press for
protection of the site as a whole and not simply a
few individual buildings or structures, as could be
the case at the current time. See the
Latest News
section for more details.
***
6800
OBJECTIONS TO PLANS TO RE-DEVELOP NORTH WEALD
AIRFIELD WERE RECEIVED BY EERA AS PART OF THE
INITIAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE
A list
of submissions can be found
here
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR COMMENTS AND
REPRESENTATIONS!
As a
result, North Weald Airfield Users Group has been
invited to take part in the forthcoming
"Examination in Public" which will further
consider
the issues raised.
NWAUG
objection workshop at North Weald Airfield
on Sunday 6th March was a resounding success!
***
Below are the
main issues threatening the future of North Weald
Airfield
***
Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for
THE East of England targets North Weald for 6,000
houses
Earlier we have
reported on the threat to North Weald Airfield, in
the shape of several studies relating to housing
expansion along the so called
"M11-Stansted-Cambridge Corridor", which
identified North Weald Airfield as a potential
site for thousands of news houses and a park and
ride facility for Stansted Airport. The airfield
is owned by Epping Forest District Council, who
unfortunately have included the re-development of
the airfield in their own planning strategy,
rather than adopting a strategy to expand its use
for aviation and leisure activities, despite
reports, such as the Government commissioned
Halcrow
Report on business aviation, which identified
North Weald's great potential as an airfield.
These earlier housing
studies and planning strategies have all contributed
to the "East of England Plan" drawn up by the East of
England Regional Assembly (EERA) as part of the
Regional Spacial Strategy (RSS14), which is ultimately
intended to become Government policy on housing and
infrastructure development in the coming years.
This East of England Plan
names North Weald Airfield and surrounding land
specifically as a strategic site for development of
6000 homes and an industrial area. It also suggests a
park and ride facility on the site and even having a
rail link passing through. If this goes ahead,
it would obviously mean the end of flying and also the
leisure activities at North Weald within a few years'
time. The airfield, which has one of the longest GA
runways and some of the best hangarage
and maintenance facilities in the South East, and
which has been active since 1916, would be lost to
aviation and the many other recreational activities
which take place there, for good.
The East of England Plan,
which is effectively the final study to be produced
before the planning policy is adopted, went out to
public consultation on 8th December, which lasted
until 16th March 2005. NWAUG believe that in
excess of 3000 objections were lodged in support of
retaining North Weald Airfield as an aviation and
leisure facility. We arranged a number of events
to encourage as many people as possible to take part
in the consultation process, including reports and
advertising in the local press and also a
NWAUG
objection workshop at North Weald Airfield
on Sunday 6th March which was a resounding success!,
Below are examples of the responses which were
sent into EERA as part of the public consultation
process.
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For full details of
the various paragraphs of the report which related to North Weald
click the following links:
RSS 14 Paragraphs Relating to North Weald (word
doc)
RSS 14 Paragraphs Relating to North Weald (html
doc)
Although the deadline for the public consultation has
now passed, if you did not manage to get your
objections and comments lodged in time, you may still
wish to write to the various organisations and
individuals listed below to make your views known.
A sample list of arguments is provided below:
Arguments against the re-development of North Weald
(html doc)
Arguments against the re-development of North Weald
(word doc)
Submissions by email
should be sent to:
planning@eera.gov.uk
Submissions by post of
fax can be sent to:
Alan Moore
Head of Planning and Transport
East of England Regional Assembly
Flempton House
Flempton
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk, IP28 6EG
Fax 01284 729447
alan.moore@eera.gov.uk
For maximum impact, we
suggest you copy your responses to the following:
Rt Hon John Prescott MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
26 Whitehall
London SW1A 2WH
john.prescott@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
Lord Rooker (Minister of State for Housing, Planning & Regeneration) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 26 Whitehall London SW1A 2WH
jeff.rooker@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
Eleanor Laing MP
(MP for the Epping Forest Constituency, which includes North Weald) House of Commons Westminster London SW1 0AA
lainge@parliament.uk Or fax Mrs Laing by following this link
Mr. John Knapman, Leader Epping Forest District Council Council Offices High Street Epping, Essex, CM16 4BZ Email:
jknapman@eppingforestdc.gov.uk and
jknapman@chigwell199.fsnet.co.uk
(Epping Forest District Council are owners of North
Weald Airfield, and ultimately the decision on its
future lies with them).
Alistair Darling MP (Transport Minister)
alistair.Darling@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Tony McNulty (Aviation Minister)
tony.McNulty@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Department for Transport,
Local Government and the Regions
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR
Here are all the above emails
addresses again in a convenient list, which you can
cut and paste into the address field of your email
program, if submitting your objections by email:
planning@eera.gov.uk,
alan.moore@eera.gov.uk,
john.prescott@odpm.gsi.gov.uk,
jeff.rooker@odpm.gsi.gov.uk,
lainge@parliament.uk,
jknapman@eppingforestdc.gov.uk,
jknapman@chigwell199.fsnet.co.uk,
alistair.Darling@dft.gsi.gov.uk,
tony.McNulty@dft.gsi.gov.uk
If you have not
already done so, please also
register on this
website and let us know if you have responded to
the EERA consultation. Once registered, we will
keep you informed of developments and advise if
further action needs to be taken.
Media Coverage We managed to obtain good BBC TV News coverage
for the Battle of Britain Memorial Service and Fly In on the 14 September. All concerned were amazed at the turn out (several thousand) and this was certainly
noted by the Press and TV people. ITN News also
reported on the airfield a several weeks earlier. Click
the relevant links above to view the broadcasts. LINKS
Click the links to view the various studies, reports
and documents mentioned above:
East of England Regional Plan:
http://www.eera.gov.uk/category.asp?cat=452. Stansted/M11 Corridor Options Study http://www.eelgc.gov.uk/Category.asp?lsection=12&ccat=74
Epping Forest Draft Development Strategy 2021 (EFDC): Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Harlow Options Study (Atkins): http://www.eelgc.gov.uk/Category.asp?lsection=12&ccat=409
A map of the planned development, including that at North Weald can be downloaded here: PDF Version JPG Version
Halcrow Report - Summary of Part 3 "The Future Capacity
of Business Aviation"
Halcrow Summary
(word doc)
Halcrow Summary
(html) Thank you very much for your support! |