Land deal could bring longer runway to Nottingham City Airport

4.3.2008 (Nottingham Evening News)

The city council has sold land to Nottingham City Airport – a deal that lets bosses there move forward on plans for a £30m business park and runway extension.

Changes could see bigger planes use the site – but owners insist it will not mean more noise for neighbours.

Bosses at the airport, near Tollerton, bought 113 acres of land from the council at a cost of £700,000.

They paid the council an undisclosed amount for the freehold of its existing site last year – and are now drawing up plans for a 300,000
sq ft business development.

The company hopes to reopen one runway, which runs north to south, and extend the 1,000m east-west runway by 500m.



Planning applications will be submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.



Brian Wells, a director of Truman Aviation, insists the extension of the runway
will not lead to greater disturbance.

Most planes use the east-west runway and some make a turn after take-off over Gamston and Edwalton.

Mr Wells said by allowing planes to begin their take-off further west, they would
not encroach above the built-up area.

However, Mr Wells said the longer runway would allow some larger aircraft to
land at Nottingham – and there are plans to accommodate some planes flying in from Europe.

Mr Wells said: “We are mainly a training and sporting aerodrome but [the extension]
will allow other aircraft to come in.”

He said the frequency would be about “one a week” and the propeller planes, which seat four to six people, are
“not noisy”.



Mr Wells said he was speaking to local people about the plans.

He said: “We will not allow the environmental impact of the airfield to be any
greater than it is now, provided planning permission allows it.

“It means making alterations to the runway.

“Everything is very positive.”

Mr Wells claimed local people were supportive because they see the airport as
a buffer to potential housing development.

Building homes at Gamston Gateway could affect the operation of the airport.

Mr Wells owns land at other sites in Rushcliffe that have been highlighted as
sites for potential housing development.

The deal with the city council involves the sale of part of Peasehill Farm and
all of Aerodrome Farm.

This is only part of the city’s holding in the area.

The council has ensured it will get a 75% share of the profits if this land is
subsequently sold for housing development. A similar clause was inserted into
the previous sale.

The city council has received a rent on the land from farmers amounting to £5,732.68
per year.

LAND DEAL COULD BRING LONGER RUNWAY TO NOTTINGHAM