2025 Consultation
Consultation
What DID WE CONSULT on?
A New Planning Application that will support the Airport’s medium-term growth requirements without jeopardising its long-term future.
The Airport currently operates with a planning permission, granted in 2011, which allows 50,000 flights each year. This New Application does not seek to change this overall limit. Instead it seeks to amend the number of flights allowed on non-weekdays (weekends and Bank Holidays) and some of our existing weight restrictions.
This New Planning Application is necessary to ensure the Airport can continue to meet the forecast demand for flights. Farnborough Airport is expected to reach 50,000 flights by 2034, so whilst this application does not give the Airport the long-term certainty it requires beyond this date, it would mean that the economic opportunity for the local area is not permanently lost in the short to medium term, which would happen if the existing non-weekday limit remained in place.
We understand that we need to find a balance between safeguarding and increasing the economic benefit of the Airport versus its operational impacts, and therefore this application also proposes specific and targeted mitigation measures as well as enhancements to our community funding.
Our proposed operational changes
Non-weekday annual flight limit
To amend the Airport’s existing non-weekday flight limit from 8,900 to 13,500 flights per year.
We have an existing non-weekday limit of 8,900 flights per year, which is 18% of our existing annual flight limit.
For many years now the Airport has handled 27% of its total annual flights on non-weekdays, which is the natural split for our flights across the seven day week. As we continue to grow, the existing threshold for non-weekday flights of 8,900 is getting close to its limit, and this risks our ability to meet overall forecast demand and deliver the corresponding economic opportunity for the local area.
The existing constraint of 18% dates back to 2011 when the Airport was still developing its business aviation operations. At that time, it was uncertain how demand would evolve, and the cap was set based on early assumptions that flying activity would be concentrated primarily between Monday and Friday. However, the profile of business aviation has changed over time and approximately 27% of flights now need to operate on non-weekdays. In fact today, 40% of all aircraft rotations involve at least one leg on a non-weekday, meaning that a restriction on non-weekday flights would also directly impact weekday operations. If the current non-weekday limit is not increased in line with forecast demand, overall growth will be suppressed, not just on non-weekdays but also across the entire operational week.
This slower growth would have a very detrimental effect on our ability to deliver economic benefits to the local area.
Further, the positive ‘business clustering’ effect that has occurred over the years has increased the number of operators and maintenance providers such as Gulfstream, Vistajet and Flexjet, who have chosen to invest in the Borough and base themselves at Farnborough Airport. These companies all need ongoing operational access to the Airport seven days a week and the existing non-weekday limit would have a severe impact on their ability to sustain their operations.
We are therefore proposing to amend the non-weekday flight limit from 8,900 to 13,500, which is 27% of our existing 50,000 flight limit.
Restricted weight category
To amend the number of non-weekday flights allowed within the existing restricted weight category and adjust the lower threshold of this category for the quietest aircraft.
We are seeking two amendments relating to our restricted weight category. This category currently applies to aircraft weighing 50-80 tonnes, and limits annual flights within this category to 1,500 a year, only 270 of which can take place on non-weekdays.
Our first amendment proposes a minor adjustment to the lower threshold of our restricted weight category such that aircraft weighing between 50 to 55 tonnes that meet the most stringent noise standard would no longer fall within the restricted weight category.
The second amendment proposes to increase the number of permitted non-weekday flights within the restricted weight category from 270 to 405 annually, reflecting the pro-rata increase in the non-weekday flight limit from 8,900 to 13,500.
This particular change is necessary to support the introduction of more modern and technologically advanced aircraft, which generally have improved environmental performance compared to the older and slightly lighter aircraft they are replacing. Importantly, aircraft that are not able to satisfy the most stringent noise standard in the 50 to 55 tonne range would continue to count towards the restricted weight category limit.
We will continue to be subject to an overall annual cap of 1,500 flights in the restricted weight category for both weekdays and non-weekdays, and the Airport’s maximum take-off weight limit of 80 tonnes remains unchanged, with only limited exemptions – such as the biennial Airshow.
CASE STUDY: GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE
Gulfstream’s decision to relocate its European Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations from Luton to Farnborough Airport marked a significant strategic investment. Their 20,900 sqm facility opened in 2020. It accommodates up to 13 large-cabin aircraft, including flagship models like the G650ER and G700, and serves as Gulfstream’s European Customer Service Centre. This move was driven by Farnborough’s unique positioning as a gateway to London, its premium business aviation infrastructure, and its planning
flexibility – specifically, the ability to grow to 50,000 annual air traffic movements.
The nature of Gulfstream’s operations demands continuous availability. Maintenance schedules, emergency repairs, and aircraft turnaround times often span non-weekdays making a seven-day operational model essential. Our application to increase non-weekday flight allowances from 8,900 to 13,500 annually reflects this operational reality.
Benefits and impacts
Our economic benefits BY 2034
Over the years, Farnborough Airport has been a local and national success story. Our proposals will help safeguard the economic future of both the Airport and its local area.
Today, Farnborough Airport supports:
3,100 jobs locally
£220m of Gross Value Added (GVA*) for the local economy
*GVA stands for Gross Value Added, which refers to the value of goods and services produced in an area or industry
5,300 jobs nationally*
*Our national figures relate to London and the South East
£400m of GVA for the national economy
By 2034, our application is expected to support:
3,800 jobs locally
£390m of GVA for the local economy
6,600 jobs nationally
£630m of GVA for the national economy
Additional ‘business clustering’ effects which are difficult to estimate
* Local area covers Rushmoor Borough Council, Hart District Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council
THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF ‘BUSINESS CLUSTERING’ CAN BE SEEN HISTORICALLY.
The projections of the economic benefits of our growth by 2034 do not explicitly include the role that the Airport plays in encouraging other businesses to locate themselves in the local area. The impact of ‘business clustering’ can be observed historically, where between 2009 and 2022 the Airport’s flight numbers increased by 28% however local employment attributable to the Airport was seen to increase by 100%. We do not try to quantify the effects of business clustering as it is difficult to forecast. For this reason, it is extremely likely that there will be economic upsides to our vision which we have not been able to quantify.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO RUSHMOOR?
The Airport and the surrounding aerospace cluster are key economic assets for Rushmoor Borough Council. The Council has identified the need for further growth and regeneration, which will require these key assets to grow and stimulate the creation of more employment opportunities and income to the local area.
It is estimated that the net present value of the accelerated economic benefit from the New Planning Application would generate an additional £540m of GVA in Rushmoor by 2034.
WHY IS BUSINESS AVIATION IMPORTANT TO THE UK?
As well as excluding the effects of business clustering, the forecasts also do not consider the economic value of the actual business aviation flights themselves, which contribute significantly to the UK inward investment and national economic growth more widely. The business aviation sector:
- Supports 41,000 jobs across the country
- Contributes more than £7.3 billion a year to the UK economy
- Demonstrably increases foreign direct investment to the UK
- The flights themselves are of high value to the passengers and companies who use them – increasing productivity and creating economic opportunity, and therefore positively contributing to the economy as a whole
Our contribution to Rushmoor
Over the last 10 years, approximately £600,000 has been given to community projects and currently more than 1,000 Rushmoor residents have jobs supported by the Airport1.
Farnborough Airport is the largest business rates payer in the Borough, paying £3.8 million per year2, with the aerospace cluster around the Airport accounting for nearly 20% of the Borough’s total annual receipts3.
1 Job estimates by ward are based on postcode data of jobs of the Farnborough Airport Company Ltd
2 Based on latest published Business Rates data from Rushmoor Borough Council
3 Includes companies related to aviation and aerospace, including companies with supporting activities
OUR PROPOSED COMMUNITY FUNDING CHANGES
OUR PROPOSALS WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL £1,700,000 TOWARDS COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS BY 2034.
We understand that we need to find a balance between safeguarding, and increasing, the economic benefits of the Airport to the local area relative to the environmental impact of its operations.
To help deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for the communities around us, we’re proposing enhancements to our existing Community Environmental Fund and our existing Sound Insulation Grant Scheme, alongside the introduction of a new Social Value Fund.
sound insulation grant scheme
Our proposal is expected to remain within our existing noise budget. However we appreciate the impact aircraft noise can have on residents living near the Airport.
As part of our consultation we sought feedback on increasing the number of properties eligible for potential noise insulation funding by introducing enhancements to our existing Sound Insulation Grant Scheme.
This change would provide noise insulation to around 220 additional properties by 2033.
We are proposing to introduce two tiers to the Sound Insulation Grant Scheme. Properties that fall within the 60dB Summer Non-Weekday noise contour will be eligible to receive up to a £5,000 grant towards sound insulation costs.
Properties that fall within the 57dB Summer Non-Weekday noise contour will be eligible to receive up to a £2,500 grant towards sound insulation costs.
Forecast noise contours will be produced by the Airport on an annual basis and eligible properties will be able to apply subject to terms and conditions of the Sound Insulation Grant Scheme.
Our Carbon footprint
What are our emissions?
Airport emissions come from a number of sources, including:
Airport operations – Buildings, operational vehicles, de-icing, and electricity
Passengers & staff travel – Surface access to and from the Airport
Aircraft – Landing, take-off, taxiing, as well as cruise altitude emissions
Emissions are measured in carbon dioxide equivalent, which is the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted, expressed in terms of the equivalent measurement of carbon dioxide. We express this in tonnes by using the term tCO2e.
Emissions are classified into Scopes, with Scopes 1 & 2 defined as emissions within the control of the Airport, and Scope 3 being emissions which the Airport does not have direct control over but has some influence upon.
As part of our approach to managing environmental performance, Farnborough Airport measures and discloses its emissions every year in its Annual Report.
Working to minimise our impact
Farnborough Airport’s total emissions in 2024 were 107,600 tCO2e, of which 2,800 tCO2e were Scopes 1 & 2, and 104,800 tCO2e were Scope 3.
These emissions exclude any carbon offsetting by either the Airport or by its operators. Many of Farnborough Airport’s users actively offset their own carbon emissions, which is an increasing trend within the sector.
For Scope 3 emissions, the vast majority (96%) are related to aircraft. While national and international policy sets the overarching framework for aviation decarbonisation, Farnborough Airport is committed to playing a leading role within this sector. We are working closely with industry partners and policymakers to support and accelerate the transition to lower-carbon aviation.
Farnborough Airport is also a member of the Sustainable Aviation alliance. Sustainable Aviation has a long-term strategy which sets out the collective approach of UK aviation to tackle the challenge of ensuring a cleaner, quieter, and smarter future for the aviation industry. Sustainable Aviation has developed its own Net Zero Carbon Road Map.
What are our forecast emissions?
We are not proposing to change our annual flight limits and therefore there is only a marginal change to our emissions profile as a result of the New Planning Application. In addition, the combination of newer aircraft, more efficient airport and airspace operations, and the progressive implementation of the UK’s Net Zero strategy, are all expected to significantly reduce carbon pollution, both on a per flight basis and in absolute terms.
Our noise levels
Under our proposals, we would remain within our noise budget as prescribed by the 2019 Rushmoor Local Plan.
Further, there are no residential dwellings expected to fall within the predicted area of ‘significant observed adverse effect’ as a result of our proposals.
We work closely with our stakeholders to monitor and limit the noise impact of the Airport.
As part of our collective efforts, the Airport has a ‘noise budget’ which is referenced in the 2019 Local Plan. We use this noise budget to assess the impact of our proposals on our local communities.
The noise budget defines a square kilometre area beyond which long-term aircraft noise from Farnborough Airport must not exceed 55 decibels (dB). Aircraft noise is measured in decibels as average noise levels across the ‘day’, which in terms of measuring noise levels covers the period of 7am-11pm. Typically, areas which experience long-term noise levels of 63 dB and above are considered to have a significant adverse effect on people.
The current noise budget for the Airport is an area of 6.58 sq. km around the Airport and can be any shape. The top map shows the shape based on our flightpaths and the representative noise impacts based on previous aircraft activity.
We currently operate well within our noise budget, and our studies have shown that this would still be the case with the growth profile under our New Planning Application.
Noise levels can be impacted by many factors including flightpaths, weather conditions, and aircraft types. As our proposals impact non-weekdays and weekdays differently, and because the summer period is generally a busier time of the year for flights, we have also considered the impact of our proposals on the average summer day and the average summer non-weekday.
Indicative noise budgets for these periods have been produced based upon our average annual day noise budget. This assessment shows that all future noise levels remain within our permitted and indicative noise budgets. Further, noise levels on non-weekdays are expected to remain lower than the noise levels over the rest of the week.
For the purposes of comparison, 2033 is the year shown in the noise contour maps below as this is the year of greatest difference in aircraft movements under the New Planning Application growth profile compared to that under our existing limits.
Noise levels for the annual day in 2033
Noise levels for the summer day in 2033
Noise levels for the summer non-weekday in 2033
Webinar information
We hosted two webinars on 9 October and 15 October 2025. Click the link below to view our webinar presentation slides.
Any follow-up questions from the webinars should be sent to contact@farnboroughairport2040.com.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments please contact us using:
Email: contact@farnboroughairport2040.com
Phone: 0808 164 6061
The larger circle shows the area proposed to be covered by our new Social Value Fund, with the smaller circle showing the area covered by the existing Community Environmental Fund.
Our proposed new Social Value Fund
Our proposed new Social Value Fund is a new initiative which we are seeking your feedback on. Based on a financial contribution linked to flying activity at Farnborough Airport, the Fund would be used to support local community projects across a wider geographic area than our existing Community Environmental Fund. However, only projects within communities which are significantly affected by the Airport’s operations would be included, ensuring the Fund’s resources are available to those we impact the most. The Fund would be administered by the Airport, and we would contribute £8 per business aviation flight for aircraft 50 tonnes and under, and £20 per business aviation flight for aircraft weighing more than 50 tonnes for flights on non-weekdays.
We sought feedback on how this Fund could be used to support projects that improve the health and wellbeing of the community around us.
Enhancements to our existing Community Environmental Fund
We currently have a Community Environmental Fund in place which is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council and to date has provided in excess of £600,000 over the last 10 years for local projects. We currently contribute £2 per business aviation flight for aircraft 50 tonnes and under, and £5 per business aviation flight for aircraft weighing more than 50 tonnes for flights on both the weekdays and non-weekdays. We are proposing to double the contribution per non-weekday flight to £4 and £10 respectively.
We estimate the total annual size of both Funds would be £285,000 per annum by 2034. This compares to £75,000 per annum which we contribute currently to the Community Environmental Fund.