On this page and linked pages can be found information relating to Gatwick Aviation Museums planning application to Mole Valley Council for permission to build a replacement building(s) to hold this world renowned collection of classic British aircraft. Aircraft from a time when the British aviation industry produced some of the greatest designs and innovations in their field.

The formal application was made on the 16th of February 2011.

6th July - Council refuses to grant planning permission!

Statement from Gatwick Aviation Museum about the planning refusal

We are extremely disappointed by the MVDC's decision to refuse our planning application. This application presents a unique opportunity to deliver a heritage-focused leisure destination that would create jobs and protect a key part of Britain's aviation history. We really do believe we have designed a contemporary facility that delivers across a wide range of parameters including utilization of existing allotted building space, low environmental impact along with the inclusion of a much needed education facility and the creation of jobs. We will go back to the drawing board and see what we might be able to do a little differently to meet some councillor concerns about the development but we also believe that this is the right project for the right location.

We also want the public to have a look see in more detail at what we are proposing and so we will be hosting several presentations prior to our next submission. As soon as we know the dates we will announce them.

More information may be obtained from the Mole Valley Council web site by clicking on the link below and entering the ref MO/2011/0190

Information regarding the voting in the planning application is now available and the table below shows those who voted in favour of the proposed plan, those against and those who did not attend the site meeting.

Voting and attendance record
Voted for Permission     Attended site visit
Emile Aboud
Derrick Burt
Carolyn Corden
 Rosemary Dickson
Tessa Hurworth
  
David Mir
 Chris Reynolds
     
     
Voted against permission        
Margaret Cooksey
Stephen Cooksey
 Phil Harris
Bob Hedgeland
 Corinna Osborne-Patterson
Valerie Homewood
 Chris Hunt
 Bridget Lewis-Carr
 Simon Ling
 Tim Loretto
Caroline Salmon
 Chris Townsend
      

 

If you have any comment please write a letter to the following address.

or email:- planning@molevalley.gov.uk. using MO/2011/0190 as a reference

Gatwick Aviation Museum applies for planning permission to replace old, dirty, delapidated ex chicken sheds for a new environmentally advanced building!

Updated 6th July 2011!!

! ! Mole Valley council votes 12 to 7 to refuse planning permission ! !

 
Call from Gatwick Aviation Museum for support for the planning appeal
Gatwick Aviation Museum (GAM), is to appeal against Mole Valley District Council's (MVDC) rejection of their plan for redevelopment of the Museum site. The redevelopment would house most of the aircraft and all of the associated equipment, documents and displays. At the Development Control Committee meeting on 6th July, it was clear from some of their questions later that a number of the Committee members had not read their copies. There is a strong bias against GAM, largely evident in the behaviour of Charlwood-resident Committee members, their forte is to press their conviction that the Green Belt Rules are sacrosanct Regulations with the force of law. They are in fact five guidance statements allowing local councils to choose the most appropriate option when considering whether to allow proposals such as GAM's.

Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) approved 329 out of 979 applications in the green belt in 2010/11, similar to the previous year, when 391 out of 926 were permitted. [source: ThisIsSurrey] .... Despite this, it is the 'Green Belt' issue that is always raised as the council's primary objection to the Gatwick Aviation Museum redevelopment.


A member of the engineering team was recently heard to admit that "if we don't get the airframes under cover soon we will start to lose the battle with the elements and have to consider scrapping some".

These aircraft and the collection are an important part of the rich aviation heritage of this country. They may not have the mass appeal of the Spitfire or the Lancaster but they deserve to be preserved as a testimony to the many brave servicemen who fought the Cold War and kept the citizens of this country safe throughout those fearful, tense years.

There is no collection like this anywhere in the South East of England, the councils statement that "It's an inappropriate location for an aircraft museum" is clearly preposterous, given it's co-location to Gatwick airport. With the current concern about youth unemployment, the museum with it's close ties to the Central Sussex College, is providing an essential resource. Some weeks more than 100 students use the museum's resources to further their education and ambitions.

Submission for support letters to the Planning Inspector closed on the 29th of February 2012. We would like to thank all of those people and organisations that took the time to write/email their support for the museums plans to redevelop the site into a modern, sustainable resource for the present and future. The council continue to "play games" and show how they are unable to act in a mature and professional manner. We await the decision due in about 7 weeks.

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