Policy S/AMC/IWM: Imperial War Museum, Duxford

1. The Imperial War Museum site at Duxford Airfield will be treated as a special case as a museum which is a major tourist / visitor attraction, educational, commercial and aviation facility. 

2.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

of the site will be informed by the preparation and submission of a site wide masterplan that will enable development and associated infrastructure provision to be planned for and delivered in a comprehensive manner. The masterplan will need to carefully consider the historic nature of the airfield and its associated heritage assets, the management of visitors on both event and non-event days, the visitor experience at site and the provision of necessary associated facilities as well as impacts on neighbouring communities and the transport network. 

3. Proposals will be considered with regard to the particular needs and opportunities of the site and any proposals involving the use of the estate and its facilities for museum uses or non-museum uses must be complementary to the historic character, vitality and sustainability of the site as a branch of the Imperial War Museum. 

4. Details of projected increases in noise will be required with all proposals which would lead to an increase in commercial or flying activity and details concerning the scale, form and design will be required to accompany any outline planning application. 

The Imperial War Museum site at Duxford Airfield is a major tourist / visitor attraction, educational and commercial facility. It is of national significance, and requires a clear policy approach recognising both the sensitivity of the site but also the importance of allowing it to evolve. 

Reflecting the opportunities provided by the airfield, there are opportunities for further development focused on aviation and other uses which are complementary and support the future of the museum site. The site area has been expanded to incorporate some additional land to the west of the existing buildings.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

proposals should be masterplan led, fully considering the heritage of the site, and demonstrating how they will help support the future of the site and mitigate its impacts on the local and wider area. 

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

Sites Topic Paper

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

.

All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.