"Coventry Airport gigafactory plans to be developed after council approval"

[dutchman]

Coventry Airport to close in 2026 for gigafactory



Coventry Airport is due to close next year, its operators have confirmed, for the development of a multimillion-pound advanced manufacturing site.

The Rigby Group said the ceasing of runway operations at the Baginton site would enable the next phase of building work to begin for Greenpower Park, the location of a proposed battery gigafactory.

The BBC has seen a letter sent to some tenants, telling them they have to leave by 9 May, with the closure set for 11 June 2026.

Greenpower Park is a joint venture between Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport and received a £23m funding boost from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in January.

A spokesperson from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said: "Coventry Aerodrome has given formal notice to us of its plan to close the airport permanently with effect from 11 June 2026."

Speaking about the airport's notice to the CAA, the Rigby Group statement said: "This procedural submission, first envisaged when local planning approval for Green Power Park was granted in 2022, enables the next phase of infrastructure work for the site to proceed."

It said the WMCA funding supported the first phase of development, which will focus on installing a 30 MVA power supply to service future occupiers.

It added runway operations would be phased out in line with the "approved infrastructure delivery schedule", and airspace surrounding the airport removed.

Warwick District Council said the land in the airport which lies in the Warwick district boundary was included in the planning permission for the gigafactory.

A statement said: "For this three reserved matters applications have been submitted, two of which are to be presented to the council's planning committee next week for determination. The third will be considered early in the new year."

Jim O'Boyle, the councillor responsible for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: "What we want to see are thousands of jobs created on here, giving the area an economic lift."

He said there was a huge space at the airport, which was "not being properly utilised" and there was now an opportunity to benefit the wider area.

The Air Ambulance Service is among organisations currently operating out of the airport.

The service said the situation was "temporary" and plans were underway for it to construct a new airbase.

Flight schools, Coventry Aeroplane Club and Nimrod Preservation group would also be impacted - as well as the Midlands Air Museum.

Barry James, chairman and curator of the museum, said the closure did not affect it since it had "a very long lease".

He added, however: "It is a loss to the region but I know the loss of jobs at the airport has been an issue for a number of years."

Steve Clark from AeroTech, an aircraft maintenance company based at the airport, said the announcement was not a big shock and had "been on the cards for quite some time".

He said he believed property developers were looking at a number of airport sites.

But he said he was disappointed all the same and the company had been looking for a new location.

Passenger flights from the site ceased in 2008, but it continued to be used for business and freight flights.

[rebbonk]

O'Boyle, the councillor responsible for jobs and regeneration at Coventry City Council, said: "What we want to see are thousands of jobs created on here, giving the area an economic lift."

It won't happen!