Air ambulance submits plans for new air base

The charity hopes to move its operations to New Shardelowes Farm, in Balsham Road, Fulbourn

An air ambulance charity has submitted plans for a new air base following the planned closure of its current home.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance's two helicopters fly from Cambridge City Airport, which is due to close by 2028.

The charity hopes to move to New Shardelowes Farm, in Balsham Road, Fulbourn, just outside the city.

The plans, which were submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council, include a hangar, offices, an approach and take off area and sleeping accommodation.

The organisation's two helicopters currently fly from Cambridge City Airport

The charity operates 24 hours a day, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

As a result, the closure of Cambridge City Airport has presented a "significant operation challenge" to the charity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

plans to leave the site in 2028, despite not yet having a new home for its operations.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance said a new, purpose-built facility was needed to "ensure the continuity of service and to future-proof [its] ability to deliver critical care across the region".

The planning documents said: "The proposal represents a significant investment in the future of [its] Cambridge operations and reflects the charity's commitment to delivering world-class emergency medical care across East Anglia."