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

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.

The North Weald Airfield Users Group.