Development Control

In addition to the technical and environmental issues referred to above, any development at Shoreham Airport would be subject to several existing planning constraints. These include a requirement that any development remains within the existing airport boundary and within certain defined limits of area. Other conditions apply in Adur’s local plan for the area.

There is also a "Section 52 Agreement" between the owning authorities and West Sussex County Council. This Agreement limits the number of air traffic movements (ATMs) to 75,000 per annum. Of these only 22,000 per annum, can be "touch-and-go" training movements.

There are also limits on the times that ATMs can occur. Touch-and-go training movements are restricted to weekdays and Saturdays between 1000 and the earlier of 1800 hours or sunset. On one weekday evening a week, touch-and-go training movements are permitted up to 2000 hours. General aviation does not commence before 0800 hours or take place after 2000 hours. However, movements only involving charter, scheduled, business or positioning flights are be permitted on weekdays and Saturdays up to one hour before commencement and one hour after closure.

Aircraft are also required to use the main runway (except in certain specified circumstances) and there is a further restriction of three hundred movements by aircraft exceeding fifteen thousand pounds maximum all-up-weight. That limit does not apply to all the light single and twin-engined GA aircraft and (by a small margin) some of the smallest corporate jets and a few types of twin turboprop commercial airliners with less than 20 seats. However, most corporate and commercial aircraft are well above that weight limit.

West Sussex County Council also has control over the types of aircraft that may fly and through the S52 Agreement, the Council also has some control over noise, flight patterns and development.

Therefore any further development of the airport could only be permitted in compelling circumstances and to the satisfaction of Adur Council and any increase in utilisation of the runway and the development of commercial air services could only be achieved with the agreement of West Sussex County Council.

Listed Buildings

The existing art deco terminal building is a Grade II listed property having regard to its unique quality and character. Demolition of this building would be strongly resisted. On the northern end of the airport there is also a former gunnery position, which is now a scheduled ancient monument and this would also be retained.