A new airfield ...

[Hugh_Jarse]

OK, not quite, or at least not yet anyway. But I have had an amazing piece of potential luck, in that during the search for somewhere to keep my aircraft which does not involve driving for ages, I have come across someone who has both a fantastic field, in a pretty damn fine location, and is keenly interested in exploring the posibility of creating an airfield.

He knows nothing about aviation, and I know pretty well nothing about the rules governing what can and can't be done without applying for planning permision. We're both keen to see if we could attract sufficient interest to make this a viable proposition before going down that route (although I have absolutely no doubt that this location, coupled with the facilities which the landowner is prepared to offer, will be very attractive indeed to a lot of local owners/pilots).

For a start, does anyone know if there is any reason why I could not take my plane into this field ? Obviously I have permission, and could do this safely and without breaking any aerial rules that I know of. Who would I need to notify, if anyone ?

Secondly, I'm pretty sure that someone once told me that you can have up to 250 "movements" per annum without planning permission. Is this true ? Where would I find a definitive answer ?

And finally, if we decide this is a "goer", anyone have any suggestions as to next steps ?

Thanks for any help/info offered.

Hugh

[Dr_Tre]

Initially I thought your post had NIMBY written all over it but I see from your previous posts that indeed you do seem to be a flyer :)

There was an article in Pilot magazine a year or so ago with info on using a field for 28 days or less not requiring planning permission etc. maybe check our their archives.

cheers and good luck! (with the NIMBYs)

[Phil Space]

Do you sell used cars:)

[Hugh_Jarse]

Dr Tre :

Initially I thought your post had NIMBY written all over it but I see from your previous posts that indeed you do seem to be a flyer http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/smile.gif

Aww shucks ... accepted into the sacred brotherhood at last ... gee thanks ! ;)

Phil - why, do you want to buy one ? :ugh:

Thanks for the steer, good Doctor - but does anyone have any first-hand knowledge ?

[suraci]

I have had up to 3 "movements" per day without permission from anyone

[patowalker]

Phone the BMAA and ask them if they will sell you their planning guide. It is usually only available to members, but they might make an exception if you promise to let microlights land at your new airfield :)

BMAA Planning Guides (http://www.bmaashop.org/acatalog/Planning_Guides.html)

[J.A.F.O.]

Hugh

Check your PMs.

[Justiciar]

The 28 day rule relates to a temporary change of use and not to things like the construction of hangers or club house. Many land owners get away with using a private strip without planning permission. In the main they use their strips for more than 28 days in a year. The reason they get away with it is because they keep a low profile and don't p*ss off their neighbours with noisy low flying over houses, communities and farms, plus people don't keep a record of how much use is made of the strip. Once they have 10 years continuous use they can apply for permission on the basis of established use.

Once you get into the idea of a full blown airfield, even for microlights, then you would almost certainly have to apply for planning permission. This would trigger the full planning process and bring out every NIMBY in a 50 mile radius. Before even contemplating this you should look at your local planning authority's planning policies for the area (they used to be called local plans but I think that the procedures and requirements have changed in recent years). If there is a declared policy of not allowing new airfield development than this will be a huge hurdle to overcome. I suspect that you would need to present a strong economic case for development of an airfield. There will also be a change of use issue in relation to possibly loosing agricultural land (if that is what you intend)

If your site is isolated and has no significant residential properties in the vicinity, then the best approach for you is to perhaps put up a very discrete hanger out of sight for you and a couple of others and say nothing to anyone (remember that those temporary hangers you can buy may not need planning permission; neither does a barn used for agricultural purposes which happens to have an aircraft in it as well). Certainly I would recommend getting your strip up and running for a time before you contemplate making a formal application. The planners will not rush to enforcement if you do not appear on their radar but once you do you will almost certainly have a fight on your hands. If you are determined to proceed then fix a meeting with a local planning officer to discuss the idea in general terms, without revealing the location. Alternatively, spend some money in taking advice from a local planning expert. It may save you a lot more cost later.

[Hugh_Jarse]

Some good stuff here guys, thanks very much.

Hugh

[chrisN]

Planning is a minefield for the unwary.

If you use a local planning consultant, odds are that they won’t know much about aviation, and you will pay them for their education. After an expensive case, which we lost at appeal, the barrister told me how much he had learnt from it. I now wish we had used somebody who knew what they were doing from the outset.

If you use an aviation specialist planning consultant, they won’t be local and won’t know the local planners or councillors – and in the end, it is the latter that decide (unless you lose and go on to an appeal). That lack of personal knowledge of people is not supposed to make any difference.

Free advice on fora such as this, including mine now, may be worth no more than what you pay for it.

If you are a member of AOPA, BMAA or LAA, they may provide some useful advice.

If you really want to learn something instead of, or before, hiring an expert, have a look at the free planning fact sheets at the GAAC website The General Aviation Awareness Council (http://www.gaac.org.uk) and maybe spend £25 on the planning guide available from them – now slightly out of date, but little has changed (I am informed by its author) since it was first written.

If it goes to an appeal, you will be in the hands of an inspector who also probably knows nothing about aviation. One inspector who did (he was himself a pilot) was removed from one appeal, and then barred from taking any more airfield appeals. They don’t bar inspectors who go shopping from supermarket appeals, or inspectors who live in houses from house building cases, but that is how it is now.

The appeal he was removed from had a different inspector appointed, who on his own admission was frightened of flying (and was the one we lost our case before too). That is OK by the Planning Inspectorate.

My 2p’th.

Chris N.

[cockney steve]

My farmer-friend assures me thatnowadays you DO need planning permission for an agricultural building.
The good news is that it's little more than a formality and the statutory notices for objection, etc. have about a 10-day "window"...then you whizz up a prefab. portal-frame barn, chuck in a few straw-bales ,a couple of implements and fill the spare room with airyplanes :)

As regards agriculture, It's sensible to mow the strip and let the rest grow...it can be cropped for Silage / Hay or even grazed between aircraft usage.

I agree that discretion is the key!....don't piss on the locals and they'll let you get on with it.

[NJTCF]

Have a look at the Hanley William Airstrip webbsite very interesting reading with regards to planning etc.

www.hwas.orangehome.co.uk (http://www.hwas.orangehome.co.uk)

Good Luck:ok: