Plans to build 400 homes and school at Tollerton airfield

The air traffic control building would be demolished under the plans

Plans to build 400 homes and a primary school at an airfield in Nottinghamshire have been submitted.

The application, made to Rushcliffe Borough Council, forms part of a wider proposal to build 1,600 homes at Tollerton airfield, home to Nottingham City Airport.

The existing air traffic control building and café would be demolished under the plans.

The runway would also be removed, according to planning documents.

If the plans are approved, the project would be developed in four phases, starting with the 400 homes.

The overall project would pay tribute to the site's history as a World War Two airfield, according to planning documents.

Former runways and taxiways would be used to form a signposted heritage trail with six Grade ll-listed pillboxes forming "key elements" of the green infrastructure.

Some of the roads would also "follow the alignment of the runways".

Airfield owner Brian Wells told the BBC he had sold part of the site to a building company, a decision he now regrets.

'Big, sad loss'

However, he said he decided to sell the land to help meet the local housing need.

"Big sites go for housing and there's always a lot of disappointment when it happens," he said.

"It's been going a long time and it may well be anything from nine months to two years before it happens, so I think people just want to make the best of it [the airfield] while they've got an opportunity."

Mr Wells said he would miss the airfield and hoped to find an alternative site to relocate to.

"It's a big, sad loss but sometimes I'm afraid you do just have to turn a page over," he said.

Another huge development has been proposed for land next to the airfield.

An application was submitted to the council in December 2020, seeking permission to build up to 2,250 homes, a primary school and other infrastructure including sports pitches and a takeaway.

Both applications have been validated by the council but they cannot be considered until a supplementary planning document - a masterplan for the site - is in place.

Councillor Roger Upton, cabinet portfolio holder for planning and housing, said: "We will formally consult technical consultees, ward members, the relevant parish councils and local residents, all of whom will have the chance to comment on the proposals."