Safeguarding is a red herring. It is divided into two distinct parts; officially safeguarded aerodromes and those that have tacit arrangements with the Local Authority Planners.
If you study the official list, it comprises mainly of previously government owned civil airports. It's quite a short list and so the majority of current licensed aerodromes aren't officially safeguarded. Add to this that safeguarding came in around the time of the second world war then the 'tween war semis of Peel Green fall out side this arrangement.
The flats, maisonettes and bungalows right on the 27 threshold step down only because the aeroclub made representations in the 60s about approaches and takeoffs.
I think the 'we were here first' argument will be self defeating. Better the 100s of thousands of safe takeoffs and landings over more than 50 years.
Sir George Cayley