Proposed Disposal of Llanbedr Airfield, Gwynedd (Saesneg yn unig)

Date of decision / Dyddiad y penderfyniad:

15 December 2008

Statement of information / Datganiad gwybodaeth:

The Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport has been asked to approve the disposal of Llanbedr Airfield to secure the future of the Airfield and the provision of employment opportunities for the benefit of the local economy.

The proposed disposal of Llanbedr Airfield to Kemble Air Services Limited (“Kemble”) will be by way of an Agreement for Lease making the grant of the lease conditional upon Kemble first obtaining from the local planning authority all planning permissions, certificates and consents authorising the use permitted by the lease. The lease will be for a 125 year term at a lease premium of £887,500 plus VAT.  It should be noted that Kemble will form a new company, Llanbedr Airfield Estates LLP which will be named as the leaseholder and will operate the Airfield.

In reaching his decision, the Deputy First Minister has considered all the relevant facts and issues, in particular, his duty under Section 11A of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and has taken account of all the representations made to him.

Following the decision by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to close Llanbedr Airfield in 2004 with the loss of 130 jobs, the WDA, in partnership with Gwynedd Council, commissioned from KPMG a study to identify options to reduce the economic impact of the closure.  The KPMG study recommended a continuation of the existing aeronautical and employment-based use of the site.

The WDA purchased the site from the MoD in March 2006, and the Welsh Ministers became freeholders of the site in April 2006.  In 2007, Stuart Hogg Property Consultants, an independent commercial property agent, was appointed by the Assembly Government with a view to identifying an airfield operator that could secure the continuation of the aeronautical and employment-based use of the site. 

The site was marketed on a long leasehold basis with a particular emphasis on enhancing the local economy.  Among other requirements, the Airfield use was to be continued and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles would be accommodated.  The marketing was extensive and included advertisements in newspapers and journals. 170 enquiries were received and seven parties viewed the site.

Five bids/expressions of interest were received and, after evaluation, two were short-listed.  The two short-listed bidders were invited to expand on their proposals and were visited at their existing operations by Officials of the Welsh Assembly Government.  The result of this further evaluation was that Kemble Air Services Limited (“Kemble”) was selected as the preferred bidder to acquire the Airfield on a 125 year lease.  Kemble’s proposals are to re-open the Airfield, initially as an unlicensed airfield to accommodate private flying and UAS, and to let the many buildings on the site for business use, thus providing local employment opportunities.  A number of businesses have already expressed interest in occupying premises.