Consultation is open from 3 August 2026 9:00am to 25 September 2026 5:00pm
Policy I/AD: Aviation development
1. Development proposals for new airfields or flying sites, or for the expansion or intensification of use of any existing airfields or flying sites (including Cambridge Airport), will only be approved where:
a. The economic employment or emergency services advantages will be significant to the area, as demonstrated by a Business Plan;
b. The cumulative noise impacts of flying in the area will not have a significant impact on the area’s amenity, with particular regard to local residents and any nearby noise-sensitive buildings;
c. The range of aerial recreation provision in the area will be significantly improved;
d. No adverse safety issues will arise from the proposal, including the safety of users of public rights of way close to, or crossing, the site; and
e. They do not lead to conflicts with operational or planned sites for renewable energy generation.
2. Assessment of aircraft noise impacts (including gliders, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)), including engine testing, should:
a. Reflect aircraft noise exposure contour values for daytime and nighttime using National Government approved noise standard metrics, supplemented as appropriate by other considerations such as a single-event levels of individual events;
b. Consider the scale and types of flying activities proposed at the site (or are likely to be associated with it), such as (but not limited to) aerobatics, aero-towing, ballooning, flying training (including ab-initio flights), helicopters, historic aircraft, parachuting, touch and go movements, circuit training and/or special event days; and
c. Identify other factors which may give rise to noise impacts, including:
i. The type and weight of aircraft;
ii. Their movement frequency; and
iii. Hours of operation.
3. In exceptional circumstances, temporary planning permission may be permitted to allow a ‘trial-period’ to assess whether a proposal would result in adverse impacts. The details of any ‘trial-period’, including assessment conditions and criteria, will need to be agreed as part of any planning consent.
4. Where planning permission is granted, any agreed activities, operations and/or restrictions will be controlled by planning conditions.
Supporting information
10.60. South Cambridgeshire has a long association with flying and, in addition to Cambridge Airport, there are a number of established aerodromes and smaller airfields in the district, including Imperial War Museum Duxford with its large collection of flying historic aircraft and internationally renowned air shows. Aviation contributes to national, regional and local economies and there are a number of industries established on local airfields. However, airfields can also raise environmental issues which need careful consideration to balance the different interests that can be in conflict. In particular, noise resulting from flying activities has been a source of previous concern and is still a very sensitive issue in some areas of Greater Cambridge. The Councils would therefore expect all applications to be supplemented with Noise Impact Assessments to demonstrate the anticipated noise impact upon the local area, especially in regard to residential properties.
10.61. A Business Plan should include details of existing aviation activities, the need for changes to current provision, and details of the proposal and implications of the proposal on, for example, the rural economy. This should also demonstrate the measurable economic, employment or emergency services advantages to an area and how the operation would remain financially viable, as evidenced by an independent review undertaken by an appropriate professional consultant at the cost of the applicant.
10.62. This policy is intended to provide a framework within which any individual proposal can be considered in the light of any local circumstances. Aircraft noise will usually be assessed in terms of the government’s environmental noise regulations (overseen by DEFRA) for acceptable daytime/nighttime noise metrics supplemented as appropriate by other considerations such as the maximum noise level of individual events. It may also be necessary to adopt acceptability criteria for the noise exposure level appropriate to local circumstances, for example to account for public perception of increased annoyance where local background noise conditions are unusually low or where flying activities are already experienced from the use of other local airfields.
10.63. Certain types of flying activity may result in a different level or type of potential impact from that caused by conventional modern aeroplanes taking part in ‘normal’ flights. Such disturbance may often (but not always) be more severe. For example, the noise impacts from helicopters can be considerable in an urban environment like Cambridge, where there are few locations where a heliport could be located without having major impacts on residents. Accordingly, proposals for new heliports will need very careful consideration.
10.64. Applicants will be required to demonstrate how their proposal will operate by detailing its intended activities and operations, including their scale. These would normally include: the type and weight of aircraft to be operated from the airfield; the type of aircraft activities proposed including the frequency of landings and departures for different aircraft, including any touch-and-go movements or circuit training; the total number of daily movements; and hours of operation. Where planning permission is granted, planning conditions will be used to control and monitor these activities. Significant improvements would normally constitute a demonstrable local need being met.
10.65. It is also recognised that with changing technologies and aerial innovation, some proposals may be much more difficult to assess in terms of their impact, both positive and negative. It is therefore considered reasonable to allow, in exceptional circumstances, temporary planning permission to allow a ‘trial-period’ for proposals. This will enable more detailed analysis of the positive and negative impacts the proposed development would generate. To assess impacts, applicants will be required to complete periodic assessments. These will include public consultation with local residents and reports detailing how amenity and noise complaints have been managed, including any mitigation measures implemented. These assessments should also be submitted as part of any submission for a permanent planning permission application.
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For further guidance on how to submit comments, please see the Representation Guidance Note.
All comments must be received by 25 September 2026 at 5pm.