Airfields (Hansard, 9 May 1991)

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

We announced in September 1990 our preliminary view that research and experimental flying should be collocated at Boscombe Down. Since then we have undertaken extensive consultations with a wide range of interested parties, including trades unions, local authorities, the Society of British Aerospace Companies, the Farnborough Airfield Development Corporation, local amenity groups and individuals. We are grateful for all the responses that have been received.

We have now considered carefully the results of these consultations, together with further work that we commissioned from independent consultants. We have concluded that it would be right to confirm the decision to base flying at Boscombe Down, as the most suitable airfield. Detailed planning to implement this decision will now be set in hand. The move to Boscombe Down will take a number of years to complete and there will be further close consultation with interested parties as work proceeds. We also intend to commission an independent environmental impact assessment at Boscombe Down to assist us in planning the move.

The airfields at Bedford and Farnborough will no longer be required for defence purposes and will accordingly become available for disposal. We recognise that decisions on future use could have a major impact on the local areas and stress that we shall want to continue to work closely with the local planning authorities and other interested parties in accordance with normal planning procedures in determining the use to which these sites will be put. Our preliminary assessment is that Bedford could have potential as a commercial, non-passenger, airfield and that options for Farnborough could range from business/commercial aviation, with some associated commercial development of the site, to more extensive development. In considering them, we shall take account of the part the airfield plays in the Government's business aviation policy. No decisions have been made and these options for Bedford and Farnborough will be considered in detailed work now to be set in hand.