Farm landing strip has planning exemption refused

The owner of a grass landing strip in Dorset has had a bid for planning exemption rejected.

Ridge Hill Airfield at Court Farm, Buckland Newton, claimed it did not need planning permission because it had been operating for more than a decade.

Dorset Council refused to grant a lawful development certificate for the site to be used by light aircraft and helicopters.

The decision means the owner must apply for planning permission or temporary use consent.

The site was previously granted temporary planning consents in 1997 and 1998 with a condition that use of the site should cease before the end of March 2002.

Council officers considered evidence of its continuing use, including flight logs and statements from airfield users.

But planning officers said the evidence did not prove the airstrip had been in use for 10 years and there was no evidence of helicopter use, although a helicopter had been based at nearby Court Farm.

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