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Blackpool, what are they playing at?

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Blackpool, what are they playing at?

Old 5th Sep 2005, 11:26
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Blackpool, what are they playing at?

No doubt discussed on the forum before (couldn't find it in my brief search), but what are the new owners of Blackpool airport playing at?

A year or so ago BPL airport applied for planning permission to develop the dissused land by ANT and Blackpool air centre and create a large number of car park spaces. Nothing seemed to happen for some time and then out of the blue they started to clean the land up and start the development, the locals, unaware planning permission had been granted, and their fears/concerns answered, contacted the council who advised planning permission had not been granted, their inspectors turned up and the work stopped.

Following this the airport applied for a temporary car park and the residents were again moved to object unless certain assurances, which the airport would not agree on, were met. The development was not continued and nothing further heard about a car park.

Now the airport have applied for residential dewelling planning application for a number of semi-detached 2 & 3 bedroom houses and a 4 story apartement on the grass next to Bateson's hangar. A number of questions arise out of this:

Are developers really that desparate for a bit of land that they will build residential properties ON an aiport.

Are there really people who would want to live on a airport overlooking hangars and an Air Training Corps building.

Are the new owners of Blackpool airport that desparate to raise a buck they will stop at nothing, even the ridiculous, to generate cash.

Does this move indicate that all is not rosey with the finances of the airport, and that this development is only the tip of the iceberg with further airport land to be used for residential development.

Maybe someone with more of an idea can enlighten this PPRuner.

If nothing else, it's only As I See It
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 12:26
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Tell me you are having a laugh!!!!!

Semi's on an airport hey. Well I guess it would be good if you like planes and don't mind the odd 757 wing tip featuring in your garden but seriously this is almost beyond belief although nothing would surprise me at BLK.

Thought the airport was going through a period of expansion not shrinkage.

I too would like to hear from someone who knows what is going on.
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 14:56
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"Are there really people who would want to live on a airport overlooking hangars and an Air Training Corps building."

I have always wondered if there would be a niche for a block of serviced apartments / hotel accommodation which played on its proximity to, and vantage point over, an airport, aimed as much at staff and contractors as spotters, but at BLK?

Having said that, I noticed some new houses going up right by the entrance to DSA, so there must be a market. As long as the new owners don't have the temerity to complain when the airport does expand, and the properties have good insulation, is there really a problem?
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 15:00
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Went to BPL for the first time last week & I see that pilots are footing the bill for this work via approach fees!

I thought Sheffield & LBA were expensive!

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Old 5th Sep 2005, 16:20
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And no doubt the purchasers of said houses will be the first to complain about the aircraft noise!!

Remenber when the MOD sold off the married patch at RAF Newton- the devolopers only showed people round at the weekend when there wasnt any flying; people moved in and suddenly realised there was an active airfield half a mile away!!! Genius!!
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 16:34
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I did forget to mention, but the entrance to the development is via the airport main entrance, I checked the plans out today in St.Annes council offices. I suppose it could be just the abode a total aviation person is looking for.
ho hum!

As I See It
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 19:14
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As I See It


Are you sure this is not a way of demolishing the existing Airport House(s) on site , and replacing them. Is the Apartment block going to be possibly office accomodation ?

Could anybody clarify this point , just a thought
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Old 5th Sep 2005, 22:17
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Danger BLACKPOOL (airport) URBAN DEVELOPMENTS LTD

New management, same problem, no ££££££££££$$$$$$$$.

Come on As I See It, you've been on the doorstep of the place for years, if they can get away with it, they'll sell every last inch of green there is.

There's no money coming in from RYR or Robs Fischer Price Airline
or anyone else for that matter. Space Hopper airports are most certainly not the saviour they would have you beleive.

Rgds
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Old 6th Sep 2005, 16:09
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I'm sure I will be proved wrong when all these people buy the houses but I think its got to be the most stupid idea Ive ever heard of. Theres living near to an airport and then theres living on the airport. Wonder if thats why Bateson wanted that Vulcan moving?! At the time it was for airport development - guess its now housing development.

Whats happened to all the talk of a new larger carpark? Wonder if the airport will issue parking permits to residents of these new houses and let the travelling public park their cars on the adjacent residential area instead which is Squires Gate Lane. Great idea!!!
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Old 6th Sep 2005, 20:38
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The old airport houses are definitely going as they will make way for part of the apartment block and the garages for the private houses.

There are 4 types of dwellings, the apartments, a large number of affordable housing units (housing association to you and me) Smaller semi's and larger 3 bedroom semi's, but get this, the houses opposite the new blue hangar will be overlooking that and no windows to the rear, so they do not look over the houses behind, what a great blue view from your living room!
As for the apartments being office blocks, most definitely not, I checked again today to see if I misunderstood them first time round.

It would seem the locals are meeting at the fisher price empire building on Thursday to hatch a cunning plan.

I can't wait to see the next instalment of space hoppers grand plan; cart racing on the perry tracke every Sunday
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Old 8th Sep 2005, 17:05
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Must say I find this baffling..... a local contact has confirmed that a note notifying of a request for planning permission has appeared on the land adjacent the big blue hangar near the access gate (near ANT Flying Club stating "residential Units" , car parking , landscaping and associated works planned !

The sign is attached to a fixed standing road sign

Are the owners really interested in developing the airport , or a housing estate ...is the radar equipment fixed yet ? It seems to be notamed as not available on a regular basis ...... any ideas on why ? or is it a case of knackered equipment or no staff to man it
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Old 9th Sep 2005, 18:17
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The locals held a meeting at Comed last night to discuss the development, and, according to my source, it is rumoured that space hopper are going to close one of the runways, the shorter of the three, and if my memory serves me correct that would be 25/07.
Can anyone confirm this nugget?
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 14:31
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seems bizarre that they're planning to develop what little land they have left for housing. the airport is certainly busier than it has been in a long time (Although how much money it's making is another matter). i'd have thought usung remaining land for airport business related matters would have made more sense.
as for shutting down 25/07, that wouldn't surprise me at all - it's well displaced and all but worn out and right on jmax's hangar door. when i was a lad there were 4 runways, if this happens then there'll be 2.

as for the houses, suspect BPL321 will be first on the waiting list!
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 18:05
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Blackpool is BLK not BPL
 
Old 10th Sep 2005, 19:24
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Disturbing news if correct.

Looks to me like City Hoppers are only interested in the land that is currently occupied by the airport for non aviation related development.

To be honest when they bought it wasn't their a clause saying that it had to remain as an airport for xxx years ??? bet it didn't say all of the existing land had to though.

Me thinks Space Hoppers are giving it a go because they have to ,
if they dont make a go of it , it will probably end up with a single main runway (less maintenance cost) and stick with GA and Heli's.
The land will be peppered with retail units and houses.

Dont suppose that runway that might get closed could end up converted to a taxiway to link up with the 28 end could it ?. Save on all the painful backtracking ! On the other hand it would make a good ready made GA Parking Apron would it not ? Especially if they developed that area purely for GA.

Anybody know if the meeting at COMED was for the Airport Tenants or the general public ?
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 19:31
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It was for locals affected by the development organised by locals, I believe anyone was welcome.

As for BPL/BLK, can't help but refer to the beacon, mind you it has been a long while since I flew from BLK
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 19:38
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As I See It


"Locals" do you mean the airport tenants i.e. operators ? a friend of mine works for one of them and they didn't know about the meeting until I told him it had been mentioned on this site .... their company would have sent a representative if they had known because some of the tenants seem to be kept in the dark by Space Hoppers.


Any more gatherings coming up ???
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 19:49
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There are rumours circulating that Emerald
are moving all their maintenance to SEN.

The story is they have taken over hangar 2 with effect from
the end of this month.

Whether this is just a rumour or there is a basis of truth
I don't know. But it seems to be widely known in this area.
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 19:50
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Dash-7 lover

Look at the plates, this is where the BPL comes from, as I am sure you know, and are probably just being pedantic?

Who knows
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Old 10th Sep 2005, 20:18
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This might well be just the case of selling off some surplus land to raise money for airport improvements. Wasn’t this done by Blackpool Council when they built the new terminal from the profits made from selling airport land?
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