"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!

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Future of Nimrod aircraft uncertain, says society



An RAF vintage aircraft preservation group said it was looking for another airfield for its Nimrod plane after Coventry Airport announced its closure.

The Nimrod XV232 is a preserved maritime patrol plane which was used during the Falklands War and has been based at the airport, in Baginton, since May 2010.

Operators of Coventry Airport have submitted a formal notice to close it permanently from 11 June 2026, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed.

Kevin Connor, from the Nimrod Preservation Group, said it if could not find another airfield, the aircraft may have to be taken apart and disposed of.

Mr Connor, one of the directors of the group, said he had served in the RAF for 12 years before joining the Army - serving a total of 48 years.

He told the BBC he had a personal connection to the Nimrod as the plane had arrived at his first posting station at RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall, in 1969.

Mr Connor said: "The news of the closure has been in the pipeline for a number of years now.

"We were warned, but it's been dragging on for the last at least three or four years [and] it became one of those things that felt a bit unrealistic."

Operators The Rigby Group said the stopping of runway operations at Coventry Airport would enable the next phase of building work to begin for Greenpower Park - the location of a proposed battery gigafactory.

Mr Connor said: "I felt very disappointed when I heard the news. We feel that the fact that there are small airfields like Coventry closing down is limiting places where flying schools could be."

Coventry Aeroplane Club and the Midlands Air Museum will be among the aviation groups impacted by the closure.

Mr Connor said: "We've got three options, they're all open. One is to find another airfield , take [the Nimrod] apart and move it by road to wherever it goes.

"Two is for the civil aviation authority to give us a one-flight move to another airfield.

"And if both of those options fail, [the third] would be to cut it up and get rid of it."

The group said it was hoping to receive an extension on the deadline to move the airliner.

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Councillor blasts 'slim possibility' of gigafactory as Coventry Airport set to close



A local councillor has claimed there is only a "very slim possibility" of Coventry airport being turned into a gigafactory during the recent planning meeting which saw the district council grant permission for the scheme. The application was granted by Warwick District Council on Tuesday (9 December).

The motion, carried in line with a senior planning officer's recommendations, comes less than a week after it was confirmed the historic site, which has been used as an aerodrome for almost 90 years, would cease operations from next year.

But Cllr Pam Redford, who spoke at the meeting, urged the district council to reconsider before the motion was passed.

She claimed there was only a 'very slim possibility' of there ever being a gigafactory on the site as an end user has still not been identified.

"Consent was given to this site over three years ago for a gigafactory on green belt land," Cllr Redford said. "This was given under very special circumstances.

"In this application you’re being asked to give consent to reserved matters, site-wide, enabling works for the proposed gigafactory. However, in more than three years, there have been no serious offers from any end user, and there is still no confirmation of serious interest.

"This site will remain green belt if no confirmation of an end user comes forward to progress the build, and at this time nothing other than a gigafactory can be built on it without fitting the criteria for very special circumstances.

"So in effect, you are being asked to make a decision on what is now a very slim possibility of a gigafactory coming forward. This current application is no more than an attempt to keep the outline plan alive."

She went on to urge the district council to defer their decision until a definite end user was found.

Cllr John Payne stood to respond to this comment, saying the fact there is not a current end user is not a big problem.

"A lot of councillor colleagues have mentioned over and over again the point about there not being a final investor," he said "I personally find it very hard to see why that is harmful or unreasonable - it seems to me we simply have a planning application with a delay attached to it, it doesn't mean anything other than that."

He went on to urge the committee to pass the motion otherwise vital funding for the area could be lost and local residents could end up with a worse planning motion further down the line.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/councillor-blasts-slim-possibility-gigafactory-33034422

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Nimrod group hopes plane can fly as airport shuts



Volunteers behind the preservation of a historic Nimrod aircraft hope it can be flown out of Coventry Airport when it leaves the West Midlands after 15 years.

Nimrod Preservation Group XV232 is setting up the operation because the airport will close in June, and the aircraft will need to reach its new base in Kent.

This weekend, the plane will be towed from its position on grass to a hangar or hard-standing, in the first stage of its removal, using specialist equipment from Birmingham Airport.

Graham Morgan, chair of the preservation group, said one of three options they are looking at was a "one-off ferry flight to Manston International Airport".

''We're currently reviewing three possible options for the future of our historic aircraft," he said.

The other two are "road transport to RAF Manston History Museum, or scrapping, if no other option proves viable'', Morgan explained.

The need to move the aircraft was confirmed in December, when the closure of Coventry airport was announced.

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

Mr Morgan explained that the cost of moving the Nimrod with by air or land won't be cheap.

"Dismantling and the road move could cost us up to £250,000, with the insurance and the work that is required on [the plane], your looking around £100,000,'' he said.

But time is running out to get the plane back in the air as the insurance at Coventry airport will expire in June.

After the aircraft has been towed off the grass this weekend, volunteers will then assess what work needs to be done on it and decide on its future.

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Air museum 'more important' as airport site closes



Air museum bosses have spoken of the historical importance of their work weeks before neighbouring Coventry Airport closes.

Barry James, of Midland Air Museum, is anxious the city's aviation heritage is not forgotten when the airport closes and is redeveloped as a manufacturing site.

The nationally-accredited museum, regarded as one of the country's leading independent aviation museums, has 60 aircraft, along with a further 250 engines and numerous artefacts and memorabilia.

"When the airport goes, our role becomes even more important, maintaining that heritage to make people aware of what skills were in the area," said the chairman and curator.

James has been at the forefront of the centre for 30 years and is already planning events to mark the museum's 60th anniversary next year.

The airport site is set to make way for Greenpower Park, which will incorporate the West Midlands gigafactory.

"As an air museum, our role is to make people aware of the heritage and history of the area which is considerable with companies we had, along with Sir Frank Whittle who was born in Coventry," said James.

Staffed by a team of five employees and around 40 working volunteers, aged between 18 and 96, the museum open seven days a week, only closing for two days at Christmas.

It is also home to the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre.

"People give a lot of their time and energy to make the place function which is something we are proud of," James said. "We're not going anywhere."

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Take That 'last ever passengers' to fly into Coventry Airport ahead of final CBS Arena show



Closing Coventry Airport welcomed Take That who flew into the site ahead of their final CBS Arena show this weekend.

The band, led by Gary Barlow, completed a three night stint playing at the home of Coventry City on Saturday night (6 June).

In a busy few days for the band they played in Coventry on Thursday and Friday as part of their The Circus Live tour. They zipped off for an afternoon set at Wembley as part of Capital's Summertime Ball on Saturday before flying back into Coventry to play the final leg of their stay in the city.

Management at the airport, which is closing to make way for new developments in the area on 11 June, shared an image of Gary, Mark Owen and Howard Donald with ground crew on social media.

"Those nice gentlemen from Take That flew into Coventry Airport this evening and when they found out that they were our last ever passengers on our last booked commercial flight prior to closing, they insisted on a photograph with the ground crew to mark the occasion," a Facebook post read.

"Normally the ground crew would turn down such a request as we don’t like people using our image to further their careers but, on this special occasion, and because they asked nicely, we agreed. "Thank you to Take That for taking some time from their busy schedule to talk to the crew, allow a photo and for wishing us all the best for the future."

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Coventry gigafactory may be downsized, CEO admits



A planned advanced manufacturing plant on the site of Coventry Airport may have to be downsized.

Under the £2.5bn redevelopment plans, the site was set to include seven manufacturing facilities, creating "a centre of excellence for battery technology, advanced manufacturing and clean energy".

But the site's owner has yet to find a car manufacturer to make the plans viable.

Steve Rigby, chief executive of Rigby Group, said: "We remain hopeful for securing battery manufacturing in the UK, I don't think it will be at the full scale we planned in Coventry."

He added: "We are competing globally, China is a significant force, with frankly significant capacity, so we are continuing to engage."

The runway closed on 11 June to make way for the development of GreenPower Park, a joint venture between Coventry City Council and the airport, which is owned by Rigby Group.

In his latest interview with the BBC, Rigby remained hopeful the plans could continue, even if they were not as large as originally envisioned.

"There are at any one time a number of live discussions happening, there are two happening currently."

"We do remain hopeful to secure, at the very least, a single battery manufacturer at Coventry Airport."

Coventry City councillor Lynnette Kelly said: "We want to be at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and we'd like there to be a gigafactory on that site, that takes up the whole site and manufacturing batteries.

"But we have to be realistic, at the moment people are interested in parts of the site rather than making one giant factory."

[rebbonk]

It was never going to be.

[dutchman]

Revamped plans for Coventry Airport site defended as 'pragmatic decision' to create jobs



Revamped plans for the former site of Coventry Airport are a 'pragmatic decision' to make the site appealing to more types of businesses, the council's jobs chief says.

The original concept was for one huge gigafactory on the site making batteries, primarily for electric vehicles. But Coventry City Council says the market has changed in recent years and a lot more interest is coming from smaller companies.

To speed up occupancy, it is developing a planning application widening the range of advanced manufacturing firms that can move onto the land, known as GreenPower Park.

Cllr Kindy Sandhu (Lab, Earlsdon) asked whether signing up smaller firms would then prevent the original gigafactory from happening.

Speaking at the council's Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board, Cllr Sandhu said: "My understanding is that if we have a site for battery development it has to be a large site. So what happens if we start to invite – or are successful in inviting – other smaller organisations? That limits our capacity to have a large site just for battery development."

Steve Weir, the authority's interim director for economic growth, said: "When we set out to do this work, what we were hearing from the market for battery investments is that you need a small number of very large gigafactory sites. Things have moved on a bit.

"We do have some enquiries that are on that sort of scale, and we're working with potential occupiers, and it's worth saying that the work to widen what we do with the site doesn't prevent us from still doing one of those deals.

"Clearly you can only use the site once though. But what we are finding is the global market for this type of investment has changed in the last four or five years and a lot more of the interest we're getting is for smaller facilities that will take up part of the site.

"Once our new planning application has been approved, you might see a smaller battery manufacturing operation on there. You might see some sort of battery R and D and you might see some other advanced manufacturing uses on there.

"I think what we're doing now is probably a better response to what the market is at the moment and that's the reason why we've made that change. As the requirements change, the technology changes, and that changes what people are looking for. The changes in science and technology do drive changes in the investment market."

Cllr Lynnette Kelly, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: "We took a pragmatic decision really. That is employment land that has been sitting there waiting for a massive gigafactory to come along and we could carry on waiting. But in the meantime, we're not creating jobs for the people of Coventry.

"So, we've decided to widen the planning permission so that we have the possibility of other forms of manufacturing going in there as well. I think that's a better use of the land than leaving it empty for years on end waiting for one particular project to get off the ground that may never happen.

"And there might be somebody out there who wants to build a large gigafactory there and has been torn between sites. When they hear that we are widening the scope of the planning permission, they might think this is the time to make a decision."

Mr Weir added: "This is all about attracting battery manufacturing and advanced manufacturing investments on to the site of Coventry Airport. We have some capital funding from the West Midlands Investment Zone, which we're using to install a reinforced power supply on that site to make it suitable for industrial development.

"And then immediately north and south of that site, we've got some other bits of land also included in the investments. What makes it an investment zone is there's funding for tax incentives for activities linked to advanced manufacturing on those sites. So, the priority is making a success of the investment zone and attracting that investment."

The Cabinet recently approved the council spending £1m on a new application for the development of GreenPower Park at Baginton, within the Warwick District Council area. This will be matched by a similar sum from GreenPower Park Ltd (formerly Coventry Airport Ltd).

A new outline planning application to extend potential business uses will be submitted in October and is expected to be approved in May/June 2027.

Coventry City Council owns the freehold of the 125-hectare airport site, which was leased to Coventry Airport Ltd, now GreenPower Park Ltd. In 2021, the two parties jointly agreed to develop the site for battery manufacturing and in 2022 planning permission was given for the gigafactory.

The proposal would still include the original aim of a gigafactory making clean energy batteries for electric vehicles, but also permit other types of businesses. This would maximise opportunities for investment, job creation and economic growth, Coventry officials said.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/revamped-plans-coventry-airport-site-34666580

The terms: "piss-up" and "brewery" come to mind!