Fairoaks garden village: Plans revealed to replace airport with new 1,500-home community
Fairoaks Airport in Chobham could be turned over to housing, with plans for businesses, community facilities, a school and parkland as well
Fairoaks Airport inChobham could be torn down and replaced by a garden village.
Tenants were contacted on Friday informing them of plans to turn the site, which comprises a commercial estate and the airfield itself, over to residential use.
Owners Albemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd and TEREF ADP Fairoaks Ltd said 1,500 homes could be built there.
Fairoaks garden village plans
The "self-contained site" would also feature space for businesses and community facilities.
Albemarle and TEREF says the plans would helpSurrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) meet its "need" for homes, businesses and key community buildings like schools.
Fairoaks Airport in Chobham could be replaced by 1,500 new homes(Image: High Level Photography Ltd)
An email sent to existing tenants, seen byGet Surrey, said while the plans were still at a "very early stage", the site owners are discussing the scheme with SHBC.
"Airport operations would cease as part of the redevelopment proposals," read the email.
"Should redevelopment be permitted, those businesses on site who are not reliant on aircraft operations will be encouraged to remain and occupy the proposed new business premises, helping to create a thriving mixed use community which could lead to additional jobs on the site in the future."
READ MORE:Fairoaks Airport bumpy landing after plane's landing gear failedPrior to any formal planning application being submitted, the owners say they will be undertaking a "comprehensive consultation process" starting in the New Year.
Get Surrey has pulled together all the information you need to know about the proposals in their early stages.
What is a garden village?
In order to qualify as a garden village, the scheme would have to be on previously developed land, be of high quality design, demonstrate financial viability and deliverability, provide for its own infrastructure and be away from other settlements.
Who is behind the garden village plans?
Fairoaks Garden Village Limited, which says it will provide further details of upcoming consultation events in the New Year.
When will the airport close?
Proposals for the new garden village would seeFairoaks Airport cease operations.
It is as yet unknown when the airport will close, as it will remain open until the plans are submitted and rubber-stamped by SHBC.
What will happen to the businesses at the site?
Not all businesses would be closed down however, with those "not reliant" on the operation of the airport being encouraged to remain on the new site.
Those behind the proposals say this will help to create a "thriving mixed use community" which could lead to additional jobs.
Plans at a 'very early stage'
The site owners are still discussing the principles of the scheme with SHBC.
Consultation in spring 2017
Theairfield will remain open and operating until the the planning application process proceeds.
The public consultation will be completed in early Spring 2017.
What about planning permission?
Following the consultation, a planning application will be prepared and submitted to SHBC late summer 2017 and be dealt with as any ordinary planning application would be.
Proposals won't reach a conclusion until mid-2018
The conclusion of the new garden village will not becompleted until mid-2018 at the earliest.
It has been earmarked for that date, but in reality the process could take a lot longer.