Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) revealed proposals to build 4,250 homes on Popham Airfield in its draft Local Plan, which was revealed on November 28.
The airfield was included in the plan after Labour introduced new planning framework, meaning that the borough must create 20,000 new homes by 2042.
Campaign group Popham Airfield Matters is against the plans, saying that the airfield is of national importance and should not be built on.
Popham Airfield (Image: Andy Amor)
A spokesperson said: “In December 2023, Popham was declared one of the top five General Aviation (GA) airfields in the UK.
“In December 2024, following a survey instigated by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Aviation, the UK VFR Flight Guide and the Airfield Operators Group, Popham was announced as being Category ‘A’ in the UK Strategic Airfield Network.”
The Civil Aviation Authority previously said that: “The aerodrome hosts a variety of non-aviation activities throughout the year, adding value to the local community and creating additional revenue streams to complement its primary aviation-centric business model.
“UK general aviation aerodromes are, of course, a finite resource. Aerodromes such as Popham may play a significant role in emerging aviation architecture such as electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) and other forms of advanced air mobility (AAM) also. There is little doubt that if the aerodrome were to close, it would be sorely missed by the stakeholders it serves.”
Popham is a contributor to the UK aviation industry. The UK aerospace, defence, security and space sectors employ around 443,000 people, contributing £42.2 billion to the economy.
The Popham Airfield Matters spokesperson continued: “Popham has the potential to play a greater role in this, offering lower cost facilities for technologies such as drone and Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft (eVTOLS), providing a positive contribution to the BDBC area economy and also providing the landowners with a positive alternative to a sale to a developer.
“Popham is a community asset. Popham Café, open seven days a week, providing great space used by many non-flying families, local residents, passing traffic and regulars such as emergency services whilst on their breaks.
“This is ancient chalk down land and is unique, not being highly fertilised agricultural land. It provides a significant chalk grassland habitat between the South Downs and the North Wessex Downs.
“Popham overlays the chalk aquifer of the Test and Itchen basin. The Test and Itchen and associated tributaries represent a rare chalk stream habitat. The landscapes and the wildlife of the Test and Itchen are of international, national, regional and local importance.
“Development in this fragile downland system of a further 4,250 houses would require significant investment in water treatment and rainwater runoff to prevent pollution or loss of water into the aquifer.
“We believe that the council have failed in their duty to demonstrate that this potential development is sound or feasible.
“The Popham Garden Development proposal has no evidence to demonstrate that it can cost-effectively deliver the infrastructure requirements, water supply and disposal and achieve a net 10 per cent gain in biodiversity within the time cycle of the Draft Local Plan.”
BDBC cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, Cllr Andy Konieczko, said: “Planning for new homes in Basingstoke and Deane has meant making some really tough choices and I understand the concerns raised.
“The difficult position we are in is that, as a result of the government’s changes to national planning rules in December last year, we now must plan for around 1,150 new homes in the borough every year, up from around 850 previously.
“That means we have to find space for 6,300 extra homes as we update our Local Plan, a document that will guide development in the borough for the next 15 years or so.
“Including sites like Popham Airfield again, which we consulted on in spring last year, wasn’t an easy decision. This site was put forward by the landowner and we are undertaking more research to better understand the role of the airfield.
“However, if we don’t plan for these extra homes, we risk losing even more control over where, when and how development happens and the infrastructure and services that come along with it.
“These are only proposals at this stage and I am keen to hear what everyone thinks about our draft spatial strategy. A consultation is now underway until Friday 23 January and people can give their views online or at one of our drop-in sessions next month. That includes at The Warren Centre in Micheldever Station on Tuesday 6 January from 2pm to 8pm.”
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