Re: Core Strategy Consultation and Redhill Aerodrome

I am writing to you, in my capacity as Member of Parliament for East Surrey, in response to the consultation process on Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s Core Strategy.

Whilst the Strategy as a whole seems satisfactory, I want to highlight my deeply held concern at the singling out of Redhill Aerodrome as a site for possible future development.

Paragraph 5.21 of the ‘Area 2: Wealden Greensand Ridge’ section of the Strategy states:

“The Redhill Aerodrome in Area 2 is located across the common boundary of Reigate & Banstead Borough and Tandridge District. This aerodrome provides limited use for small recreational aircraft flying and also contains a small employment area. There are no firm plans for redevelopment of the site due to its Green Belt designation. However, when a Borough-wide Green Belt Review is undertaken, this site will be considered along with others for development opportunities in consultation with other key stakeholders including TandridgeDistrict Council.”

I see no plausible reason for such specific referencing, and believe that it should be removed from the Core Strategy. It is my understanding that no other Green Belt sites have been referenced in this manner.

This would seem to be an open invitation for the development of Redhill Aerodrome, or at least an invitation to speculation and blight. The owners of Redhill Aerodrome have, over a number of years, made it clear that their intention is to redevelop the site . Attempts to do this have always been fiercely challenged by both Councils and local residents. The inclusion of Paragraph 5.21 could be seen to be prejudicial to the outcome of any future application to develop this important Green Belt site.

As you will be aware Tandridge District Council have expressed concern about the inclusion of this paragraph; and have made no such reference in their own Core Strategy (which has already been adopted). Indeed, Tandridge District Council’s official view is that “the reference to Redhill Aerodrome is out of place and premature,” and that the addition of Paragraph 5.21 could result in “cross boundary conflict”.

For these reasons, I strongly believe that the explicit reference to Redhill Aerodrome should be removed from the Core Strategy. Its addition serves no beneficial purpose, and its removal would not weaken the rest of the Strategy.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Ainsworth