Residents concerned about new 38m Cranfield radar tower

Cranfield University hopes the new radar tower will aid "world-class aviation research that takes place at Cranfield University"

People living near an airport say they are concerned about a new 38m (124ft) tall radar tower.

Cranfield University, which owns Cranfield Airport, was granted planning permission for the tower by Central Bedfordshire Council.

Campaigner David Hubber said the council "failed to notify or communicate with residents" and "few people know what is going on".

Central Bedfordshire Council said it had considered residents' concerns.

A spokesperson said: "There are three separate planning applications which relate to the issues raised. Residents were consulted and their concerns were taken into consideration when each of these decisions were made."

Mr Hubber and other residents have formed a group to campaign against the plans called Let's Protect Cranfield.

The tower, from Easat Radar Systems Limited, will be the first on-site radar facility Cranfield Airport has had in 30 years.

Cranfield University said the tower would become operational in 2026 and "improve the airport's capacity to map airspace, actively detecting aircraft rather than relying on them to transmit information".

David Hubber has criticised the council about its communication with the community

The new radar tower is being built this year ahead of a move to the site by aviation company Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, which is currently based at Cambridge Airport.

Mr Hubber said the radar mast would be "roughly twice the height of the surrounding trees and very close to residential properties".

He is concerned the tower will emit electro-magnetic radiation and produce "shadow flicker".

The campaigner said: "There is a nursery in close proximity [to the radar] where the person in charge of that nursery was extremely concerned when I spoke to her, because she knew nothing about the planning application."

The radar tower, from Easat Radar Systems Limited, will be placed at land north of Handley Page Close at Cranfield University

A spokesperson for Cranfield University said: "The university followed a rigorous process to select the most appropriate and effective site for the radar.

"Studies were conducted to assess noise, shadow flicker, radiation, and the effect on the environment - these all showed no significant impacts or concerns."

A spokesperson for Central Bedfordshire Council added: "The application relating to Marshall Aerospace's relocation to Cranfield, which will bring 1,200 jobs to the area, was approved in April 2023."

They said people's concerns "were captured as part of the planning application process, and through the extensive engagement carried out by Marshall at the time".

The statement continued: "We consulted widely, not only on an individual basis but also with adjacent parish councils, and we don't recognise statements that imply we did not do so properly, or engage appropriately with residents."

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