Uncertainty over proposed sale of airport

There are growing concerns about the proposed sale of an airport to a private firm – and calls for a rethink.

The 375-acre Gloucestershire Airport site is jointly owned by Cheltenham Borough and Gloucester City Councils. They are hoping to sell it to the Horizon Group for £25m, but target dates to complete the deal have been missed.

Concerned councillors say they can only keep waiting to hear if the long-anticipated deal has been done, while business chiefs say they fear the site will be sold off for housing.

The councils say that "the sale of an airport is an extremely complex undertaking and naturally takes time".

Planes have been flying from what used to be called Staverton Airport for nearly a century.

But the number of aircraft using it has fallen in recent years and the site needs investment.

The two councils want to sell it, and in July 2025 announced they were in talks with the Horizon Aero Group. Months later, they confirmed the sale would be complete by the end of January.

However, people are still waiting to hear whether the deal will go ahead.

Even if the sale does happen, there are concerns.

Gloucestershire Airport includes two business parks and planning consent for an additional 30,000 sq m (322,917 sq ft) of business space.

One firm based in its business parks is Aerotiques, which repurposes old aircraft parts.

Founder Darren Lewington worries that it may not remain an airport.

"There was always concern amongst the operators and tenants here that the long-term objective would be to close the place and develop it and potentially housing," he said.

Others think ending flying could be good.

Resident Philip Drew has contacted councillors suggesting it would sell for much more if the airfield closed.

"It has some potential for housing and or light industrial development," he said. "The location of it is so close to the M5 would make it a valuable site."

There are significant constraints, however. The airport sits within the green belt between Gloucester and Cheltenham, an area where large new housing developments would not normally be permitted.

This position is backed by Green councillors in Cheltenham, who support alternative forms of economic development at the site.

"Currently a chunk of airport has been developed on," said group leader councillor Ashleigh Davies.

"I think we would be comfortable seeing the same square meterage built on again for other purposes."

For now, she and other concerned councillors can only keep waiting to hear if the long-awaited deal has been done.

In a joint statement, Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough Councils said: "The sale of an airport is an extremely complex undertaking, we anticipate bringing the process to a conclusion shortly."

They added that "Horizon Group has set out plans aimed at safeguarding aviation".

Horizon is a joint venture between Vayu Aviation Services and Vensa Infrastructure, respectively British and Indian companies.

Soma Pemmireddy, CEO of Horizon, previously said the company's priority is to "build strong local relationships, maintain seamless operations, and begin laying the groundwork for future investment".

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.