Abandoned Plymouth airport 'saga has gone on far too long' as no end in sight

The company shut down the airport back in 2011

PlymouthLive readers are frustrated to hear that legal tussles are still ongoing over the future of Plymouth's abandoned airport and the Barbican's lock gates. The delays have set Sutton Harbour Group Plc back a staggering £600,000.

The company, which took the hit last week by putting Millbay's King Point Marina up for sale after losses neared £4m, is adamant it hasn't violated lease terms for the sprawling 113-acre airport land. They're gearing up for discussions with the council to draw up new plans for developing the area.

In sharing its annual financial figures with stakeholders, SHG announced that despite past setbacks, it is forging ahead with ambitions to revamp the old airstrip, while keeping the door open for some form of aviation activity. The blueprint for redevelopment is already taking shape, as the firm has tendered a comprehensive pre-application plan to the officials, outlining a raft of potential uses for the site.

The company shut down the airport back in 2011 when it activated an "Armageddon clause", citing the operation as financially untenable. Since pulling the plug, SHG reveals that no cost-effective schemes to reboot aviation operations have come to light.

Even with these hurdles, the group holds on to a sizeable 134-year lease on the property, which includes an option for a further century-and-a-half extension. While owning a portion of the land outright, the bulk sits within the lease managed by its subsidiary, Plymouth City Airport Ltd.

Commenter Mpsw says: “I remember a survey many years ago, consulting on Plymouth development. This included moving the airport to Sherford to allow for more commercial viability.

"The land of the old airport was to become housing, also an extension to cycle lanes over Laura Bridge. Only the cycle lane happened! So if financial planning over 20 years ago foresaw the airport at Roborough was not viable, why are we having the same conversations again which is costing EVERYONE money?”

KenJohnson1 thinks: “The airport only became unviable when SHH stopped flying to popular destinations such as Jersey. I used it to fly to London and the plane was always full.

"If you remove popular destinations then of course the service becomes unviable. They sold the very lucrative London Landing slots! Places smaller than Plymouth operate successful airports, we have no motorway and never likely to get one and we have Victorian railway. The business case has already stated the airport is viable, it is time the Council got the lease back.”

Pilgrimpete agrees: “A city this size should have a hub airport. We will never have an airport to fly to exotic exotic locations, but we need the opportunity to fly to airports to do so. Links to Plymouth, Devon Expressway are often blocked, the railway is never reliable. Our councillors and MPs are so quiet it's untrue. Get the airport open.”

Bangerman adds: “Every day aircraft that are able to land at Plymouth are instead flying over it between Exeter and the Isles of Scilly. Those aircraft could link Plymouth with Newquay, Bristol and Exeter to connect with Heathrow and Gatwick and Europe. We don't have a motorway, our train link is unreliable and expensive, and our Ferry link is with that famous French metropolis, Roscoff - how many more reasons do we want to reopen the airport?”

RickOshay disagrees: “It is a brownfield site and an ideal location for housing. The airport wasn’t viable, and with airports at Newquay, Exeter and Bristol easily accessible there’s no case for reopening the Jannerdrome. This saga has gone on far too long, PCC and SHH need to get around the table and end the stalemate that is helping nobody.”

Gdaddy63 says: “The old airport was engineered to be unviable! It's very simple, the people of Plymouth want to see an airport, not more ugly, urban housing on a Sherford scale, so instead of flooding us with pro house building comments, give the people what they want, the airport!”

Happygolucky57 writes: “Whatever your views on the future of this site, this is totally embarrassing on all fronts. Somebody needs to make a decision, and fast. This situation has dragged on far too long. This is prime land just begging to be developed one way or the other. Total farce for a city of this size.”

Maggsi says: “We need a larger Football Stadium with adequate parking and we won't get that at Home Park, but the old airport would be an excellent place. What is now Home Park could be turned into a heli port for those who wish/need to fly?”

Sloopdog1 writes: “Compulsory purchase it and build a new modern day hospital for the next 50 years and the future of healthcare in Devon and Cornwall. Here's a novel idea tag on a building with accessible NHS dentists too.”

Exegreen thinks: “The airport needs to be owned and operated by a company committed to Plymouth and the area's future. Encouraging people to travel to other UK destinations. Becoming an international development centre for a new generation of low pollution air travel.”

Wheresthesun says: “Plymouth needs an airport!”

What do you think about the airport site? Does Plymouth need more housing or should the airport be reopened? Have your say in our comments section.