Airport plans to be unveiled

The airport's owner, Erinaceous, wants to restore the Art Deco listed terminal building to improve access and provide a restaurant on the ground floor, with an aviation club and a function and conference suite above.

Plans for an aviation square, with two, three-storey, mixed-use buildings flanking the terminal building, with leisure, retail and marketing on the ground floor, offices on the second floor and penthouse flats at third-floor level, are also included.

There would also be a flight centre, a new hangar and other offices.

An airside operations building would provide a new fire station, air traffic control tower, and maintenance building.

Erinaceous put forward its initial proposals at the Shoreham air show last September. Following comments and ongoing discussions with Adur district and West Sussex county councils, and the Civil Aviation Authority, revised proposals have been prepared.

David Parkinson, part-owner of a Chipmunk based in the airport's municipal hangar, said: "Many of us owners and businesses are worried that we will be adversely affected by these plans. We have received no information on where the new hangar will be built."

An Erinaceous spokesman said: "The proposals will allow the airport to enhance the quality of passenger facilities, alongside the continued use of the existing runway configuration. This will enable the airport to continue to operate as an improved general aviation aerodrome. The exhibition is an opportunity for those living or working in the area and those with an interest in the airport to discuss the plans and to provide feedback which will help in the preparation of the planning application."

Copies of the display boards will also be available to inspect at the Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham, from February 5 to 9.

The plans will also be on-line at www.shorehamairport.co.uk from February 5.