Aviation enthusiasts and hobby pilots across Hampshire are mobilising against controversial proposals that would see a cherished local airfield demolished to make way for thousands of new homes. The future of Popham Airfield, a 68-hectare site in the heart of Jane Austen country, hangs in the balance as a draft local plan earmarks it for a massive housing development.
A Community Asset Under Threat
The draft of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's local plan includes proposals for 4,250 new homes on the airfield site. Developers have described the project as a 'garden village', a label campaigners dispute given the scale, which is larger than nearby towns like Whitchurch and Overton. The airfield's owner, the family of the late aviation collector Charles Church, has put the land up for sale and is now in partnership with developer Alfred Homes.
For the tight-knit community of aviators, the plans represent an existential threat. Brian Lloyd, a 70-year-old retired graphic designer and spokesman for the campaign group Popham Airfield Matters, stated he would be forced to give up the plane he spent five years building if the airfield closes. "If this airfield gets shut down I won't be able to afford to keep it anywhere. I'll have to give it up," he said.
The Wider Impact on UK Aviation
Campaigners argue that losing Popham would be a severe blow to general aviation in the South East. The airfield, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, is ranked among the best in Britain and is a vital logistical hub due to its location outside controlled airspace. Approximately 70,000 people visit the site annually, with 20,000 aircraft movements recorded each year. It is also a popular event space and a convenient stop for travellers near the A303.
Retired engineer John Chaplain, 72, another member of Popham Airfield Matters, fears for the industry's future. "An interest often starts as a youngster when people come and see the shows. Without that, what will keep aviation alive?" he questioned, highlighting that the UK's multi-billion pound aviation sector often sparks its first passions at grassroots venues like Popham.
Planning Pressure and Local Backlash
The council cites increased housing targets from central government as the driving force behind the difficult decision. Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, Councillor Andy Konieczko, explained that national planning rule changes now require the borough to plan for around 1,150 new homes a year, up from 850. This means finding space for an extra 6,300 homes over the plan's lifespan.
However, locals and campaigners see the targeting of the airfield as "lazy planning". Opponent Charlotte Lawrence warned of "horrendous effects" on historic villages like Steventon, Jane Austen's birthplace, citing inevitable traffic chaos and "enormous environmental damages to greenfield areas". Critics also point out the site is chalk grassland, a supposedly protected habitat.
Popham Airfield Matters is urging supporters to respond to the public consultation, which closes on January 23. While Cllr Konieczko stressed the plans are "only proposals at this stage", the aviation community is preparing for a fierce fight to save a piece of Britain's flying heritage from being paved over.
