The Government agency OFCOM has announced that it has sold its historic and environmentally important land at Kenley Airfield to a house building company, Comer Homes Group.

The move comes despite the efforts of local MPs, Peter Ainsworth and Richard Ottaway, to persuade the Government to respect the wishes of local people and to enable the land to be saved for public access. The friends of Kenley Aerodrome have raised some £40,000 in a bid to buy parts of the site; the Corporation of London had offered to contribute a matching amount.

Commenting, Peter Ainsworth and Richard Ottaway said “Kenley Airfield played a key role in the Battle of Britain, and represents an important environmental asset. The land in question has recently been given conservation status by Tandridge District Council and Croydon Council. The decision to sell to a house builder is mean spirited, unimaginative, insensitive and typical of a Government that has no respect for history or the environment.

“We congratulate the friends of Kenley Aerodrome on their heroic effort and deeply regret that the Government have ignored all our representations.

“We will be seeking an early meeting with Comer Homes Group in order to discuss their plans and to see whether there remains scope for negotiating an outcome which respects the wishes of the community.”