Publication Plan April 2024

Comment

Representation ID: 6860

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

The policy and general support for investment into the aerospace engineering sector are supported. It is considered our client’s land interests at Halfpenny Green Airport are unique within the Borough and provide potential and opportunity to attract significant investment in the aerospace sector, and the Policy should recognise the role of Halfpenny Green Airport can play in developing this potential growth sector within the authority area.

Comment

Representation ID: 6861

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

It is considered that the policy should recognise the role of existing commercial uses outside of development boundaries and the need for existing businesses in the rural area to develop beyond the conversion and reuse of existing buildings, especially on sites which are recognised as being previously developed land and where it’s re-use would also then be contributing to sustainability objectives.

Object

Representation ID: 6862

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

As prepared the policy is inconsistent with paragraphs 88 and 89 of the NPPF. The policy states employment development outside settlement boundaries will only be supported where all of the criteria set out in paragraph 3.4 are satisfied, including that development should comprise the conversion and reuse of existing buildings, which is inconsistent with paragraph 88. It should reflect paragraph 89 in that it should recognise that sites to meet local community and business needs in rural areas may be located beyond existing settlements.

Support

Representation ID: 6863

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

Our client is supportive of the potential for delivering a business and masterplan for the future development of the site, alongside relevant stakeholders, to ensure a vibrant and viable future for the airport, recognising the important and positive role it can play in the economy of South Staffordshire.

Object

Representation ID: 6864

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

It is considered that in its current form, the policy is overly restrictive and does not build on the aspirations for developing the aero industry as expressed through policy EC1. Policy EV13 of the Core Strategy refers to the ability to carry out development outside of the identified developed area under permitted development or development which is required for the safe and efficient operation of the Airport – this reference should be carried forward to EC10.

Object

Representation ID: 6865

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The extent of the existing developed area as shown on Inset Plan 43 is restricted to the extent of the existing buildings on site and the Policy should reflect that the inclusion of the existing developed area as identified on the proposals map, is not determinative of the full extent of the area of previously developed land at Halfpenny Green Airport. The area of land considered previously developed land plainly extends beyond the existing developed area identified on the plan and should encompass the entirety of the operational area of the airport. The runways and access roads which intersect the wider site clearly comprise fixed surface infrastructure, with the full extent of the airport site, meeting the definition of PDL.

Object

Representation ID: 6866

Received: 31/05/2024

Respondent: Wolverhampton Airport Ltd

Agent: Emery Planning

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The policy should seek to support the role of Halfpenny Green Airport as a light aircraft airfield for private, business, tourism, recreational and relevant commercial purposes in addition to supporting the site’s role as an existing local business hub. It is welcomed that the policy acknowledges the important role that the existing non-aviation businesses present at the site. However, the policy only supports development proposals for infill development and replacement of existing buildings directly related to the general aviation role of the airport, this is considered to be overly restrictive.