One of the biggest threats to airfields in the UK and specifically White Waltham is the encroaching development of surrounding land for residential housing and other uses.
White Waltham Airfield currently has three major developments within 500m of the airfield boundary all of which threaten the existence of the airfield as we know it. We have recently publicised the planning application to redevelop the Maidenhead Office Park. This development will see new buildings constructed that not only impinge on the runway transitional surfaces for runways 25/07 and 11/29 but will also be very visible above the tree line that helps to retain the atmospheric feel to this historic airfield. Indeed the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead itself has accepted the airfield as an Area Of Special Character.
In order to comply with CAP738 Safeguarding of Aerodromes we have lodged an airfield safeguarding map with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in order to comply with our requirements as a licensed airfield. This requires the Royal Borough to consult with us on any applications in the vicinity of the airfield. Unfortunately we did not receive any consultation documents for this development and as a result we are late in responding. The official consultation period is closed but you can still comment by sending your letters to planning@rbwm.gov.uk. Please free to share the details of this consultation and the template below to anyone else you see fit. It is important that applications are submitted as soon as possible.
Planning Application Objection Maidenhead Office Park
This right hand image is an artists impression of the new industrial units although this shows them as being lower than they actually will be. The tops of the buildings will be very visible above the current tree line.
The left hand image shows the Office park as it is now. As can be seen the footprint of the new development will be far greater than the existing.
Lillibrooke, Land East of Woodlands Park Avenue – Invitation to public consultation events
The latest development of which we have received notice is an application to build houses on a piece of land underneath the take off route for Runway 07. Further details are in the flyer below. We try very hard to be a good neighbour and to wherever possible mitigate the effects of aircraft noise but once completed this development will not only be a noisy place to live but will also remove a safe space to go in the event of an engine failure after take off.