CONTENTIOUS plans for a second helipad at Aston Martin in Gaydon have been given the green light in a bid to end misery for residents.
Members of Stratford District Council’s planning committee voted unanimously in favour of an application submitted by Aston Martin Lagonda for a 25 metre by 25 metre helipad, which they state is “essential” for business.
This was flying in the face of a recommendation by planning officer’s to refuse the application.
The luxury car company already has a helipad in operation to the north side of its premises, near to Banbury Road, which was refused planning permission in 2020 but has nevertheless been in operation much to the upset of residents who have complained about the noise. The council has received complaints but no enforcement action has been taken.
Aston Martin submitted a further planning application for a helipad in its existing car park in 2023 which was refused.
This new application was the latest attempt at getting planning permission for a helipad in this location.
The new helipad will be used for up to 100 days a year, Monday to Friday, with helicopter landings between 9am and 6pm.
The refused proposal was for 125 days, included weekends and would have allowed flights from 8am until 9.30pm.
The latest application was supported by Coun Chris Mills who said switching sites would be a great relief to the residents living at Lighthorne Heath.
He continued: “Believe me, I can assure you that when this helicopter takes off from the existing site, the windows shake on the homes. I have been there, the place shakes.
“The present helicopter pad that does not have planning permission and has been allowed to be used has caused misery for residents for many years, also being detrimental to the health of some.
“The new helipad would alleviate this problem and allow residents to have a quiet life, free from the cacophony of noise caused by helicopter blades.”
Planning officers recommended councillors refuse the application on the basis that no detailed information or evidence had been provided demonstrating how the helipad was ‘essential’ for the economic benefit or facilitation of the company’s day to day operations to outweigh the significant harm that the helipad would cause to the nearby properties.
Speaking at the meeting, Aston Martin’s head of government relations and sustainability Rob Colmer said: “Helicopter use is standard practice in our industry, enabling people to move quickly over long distances.
“This facility is a vital economic enabler. Please think, time is money.”
He referenced how flights could take overseas investors with limited time in the UK to the F1 team at Silverstone, London, regional airports and Aston Martin’s factory in Wales.
He added: “Just one helicopter flight securing a single sale can deliver millions of pounds of revenue.”
