Fears for future of Wolverhampton Airport raised during housing estate showcase
Fears have been raised about the future of Wolverhampton Airport after controversial plans were revealed to build 112 homes there.
Dozens of people attended a public consultation at Bobbington Village Hall, where they voiced concerns about loss of greenbelt and strains on local infrastructure.
The airport's owner MCR property group, which is based in Manchester, said the homes are needed to financially support the 'struggling' airport, which is located in Bobbington, in the south Staffordshire countryside.
A planning application is expected this summer to South Staffordshire Council, for homes on the south side of the airport.
Airport users and residents are against this and there are fears these initial proposals could be a 'Trojan horse' for a larger development.
A council report, called the South Staffordshire Local Plan Review, said there are longer-term plans to see "what benefits could accrue from a larger scale development at the airport."
"This could be considered as a further option which meet some of the housing requirements in the district," said the report.
It is claimed that MCR published a post on its website several weeks ago saying that the company wanted to 'build 1,200 new homes', before the post was 'swiftly taken down'.
A screen-shot of the alleged post was shared by Roy Targonski, a pilot who has used the airport for 40 years.
He believes the airport would be 'destroyed' by this housing project.
He said: "To build 100-plus homes is financially unsustainable," he said.
"I think the developers are planning to use the profit from these initial homes to fund more infrastructure to then develop the whole airfield, while there would be no investment for the actual airfield itself.
"Gradually overtime, the owners would say it is unviable and we have got no choice to build the other 1,000 or however many homes.
"I am totally against any development on the airport. If they were to go ahead, I feel the airport would be destroyed and lost.
"In a word, I think these initial plans are a Trojan horse."
He added: "The screen shot was released around December 12 and subsequently swiftly removed with a denial issued."
MCR's planning manager Tony Dodds, who is overseeing the project, said he couldn't 'rule out' future development.
"The proposals for 112 homes are what we want to do in the short term to make the airport sustainable," he said.
"What happens in five, 10 years time, I can't predict unfortunately."
Tim Brannon, who runs Air Midwest flight training school at the airport, said the site has 'huge potential' for aviation development, but questioned why houses are needed.
"There are lots of people against it, everyone is," he said. "People on the airport are careful what they are saying because there could be implications for them.
"The airport itself has got huge potential to be developed for aviation uses, but to build a housing development here, it doesn't make sense. This just fills the coffers of one company which is not locally based."
MCR's owner is Aneel Mussarat, a British-Pakistani businessman with a reported net worth of £300 million.
The firm said cash generated from the homes will be used to upgrade airport facilities, include the 1940s-era hangars, and thus keep it running.
The airport itself was built in 1941 and initially used by the RAF, being called RAF Bobbington and then RAF Halfpenny Green, during the last last century. It is located in greenbelt in the countryside. It is used by flying schools, businesses, the military and as a refuelling stop for aircraft travelling across Britain.
The airport has faced threats from development in the past, including a failed bid to expand it in 2006 into a commercial airport for 500,000 passengers a year.
A major concern about these new plans is how close the houses would be built to the runways, with aeroplanes and helicopters flying in close proximity to people's homes.
Mr Dodds said: "We have looked at the safety concerns and we are happy with our plans.
"We think this plan is balanced and sustainable for the airport. We are trying to build 112 units in greenbelt. We think we have a reason for doing that and exceptional argument."
Another concern is how local infrastructure, such as the surrounding small roads, schools and health services, will be put under pressure by more residents.
However Roger Lomas, a consultant, said money would be provided to boost the amount of local infrastructure.
To have your say on the proposals, visit www.wolverhamptonairport-consultation.co.uk or email wolverhamptonairport@pegasusgroup.co.uk
