Gloucestershire Airport to be sold for more than £25m
Several weeks of checks will now be undertaken, with the sale expected to be completed by autumn.The identity of the buyer is expected to be revealed next week, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.Leaders at both authorities and the airport itself have stressed the site is being sold as a going concern.But some councillors and campaigners have raised fears about the viability of the business and the potential for the land to be sold for housing in the future.
Airport 'needs investment'
Hilton said a "robust" covenant would be put in place to prevent the land from being developed on, and this would likely last for 50 years.He said Gloucestershire Airport was more likely to survive as a result of the sale compared to if the councils continued to run it."We know the airport is running at a loss and has been for a number of years," he added."They have not paid the councils a dividend for as long as I can remember. They need substantial investment."Two Community Independent councillors argued the land should be sold to build up to 12,500 homes.Councillor Andrew Bell said: "We need houses… this is our perfect chance."However, members voted to go ahead with the sale by 25 votes to two.
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