The Planning Permissions

Background

In 1991, the Ministry of Defence declared Farnborough surplus to its requirements. The change concentrated military

aviation research and development at Bedford and Boscombe Down, with test flying also taking place at Boscombe.

In conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Transport, the Ministry of Defence

drew up a strategy for disposal of its landholdings at Farnborough. A tranche of land was released to BAE Systems for

the Farnborough Aerospace Centre. Part of the site was retained by DERA, now QinetiQ for a variety of scientific

research and development activities. The former Factory site is now occupied by Slough Estates, which is developing the

Farnborough Business Park, a site that will ultimately accommodate nearly two million square foot of office space.

The Government wished to keep the operational areas of the Farnborough airfield in aviation use. In the late 1980s, it

had realised that the lack of space in the South East for business aviation could have serious impacts on the regional

economy. Farnborough was therefore earmarked as a site suitable as a business aviation airport. A small civil operation

commenced in 1989 and the Ministry of Defence then drew up a development brief for a complete conversion of the site

to business operations. In 1997, the MoD commenced the marketing of the site for this purpose as, by that time, the

Rushmoor's Local Plan incorporated draft policies for the future of the aerodrome.

In February 1998, TAG was confirmed by the Government as the future operator of the site. In October 2000, TAG was

granted planning permission for the use of the site for business aviation, for works needed to bring the site up to Civil

Aviation Authority (CAA) standards and, in principle, for the new air traffic control tower, hangars and terminal building.

The planning permission gave the Council the opportunity to bring the previously unregulated flying activities at

Farnborough under public control.

The main controls are:

    *  Only business aircraft can use the aerodrome. Scheduled passenger, bulk freight services tour charter and

recreational flying are not allowed.

    *  Freight is limited to 100 kg per aircraft except movement of racehorses.

      A limit of a total of 28,000 take-offs and landings per annum, of which no more than 2,500 can be at weekends or

bank holidays.

    *      Noisier aircraft have to be phased out for the operator to exceed 20,000 movements per annum in order to

comply with a 'noise budget'

    * Flying can only take place between 0700 - 2200 weekdays and 0800 - 2000 at weekends and bank holidays.

    *  Aircraft are limited to those types with a manufacturer's maximum take-off weight below 50 tonnes. This limit

allows the operation of inter-continental business aircraft such as the Gulfstream V and Global Express. An exception is

made for up to 1,500 movements per annum by purpose designed business aircraft up to 80 tonnes to accommodate the

Boeing Business Jet and Airbus Corporate Jet.

    *  A small amount of aviation by Government, DERA flying club and for Farnborough International Airshow is allowed

outside of some of these controls.

As a part of the planning permission, a number of environmental controls were also established at the Airport. These

came into effect on January 1 2003 when the CAA licence was granted. One of the environmental requirements is the

preparation of quarterly and annual monitoring reports. The annual report summarises environmental performance over

the previous year. It sits alongside quarterly reports that monitor noise and air quality criteria and provides an

opportunity to report more widely on the performance of the airport.

In February 2004, the Department for Transport designated a Public Safety Zone at Farnborough. In April 2004, the

Council adopted Interim Planning Policy on the control of new development within the Public Safety Zone.

PLANNING PERMISSIONS AT THE AERODROME

FARNBOROUGH AERODROME CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE