Southern Cross Estate, Nursling
Slough Estates Plc & CTC Aviation Group Plc

Longstanding policy-led B8 only restriction overcome after detailed briefings to members and officers.

The Southern Cross Estate is comprised of modern, high specification warehouse/distribution units. The use of these units, and the adjacent estates, are controlled by a B8 only restriction founded in the Council’s adopted Local Plan. The policy was firmly enforced. It had made letting some of the units difficult.

Acting initially for Slough Estates, we led negotiations with the Council to establish support for a unit being occupied by CTC Aviation, the largest independent trainer of airline pilots worldwide. Their intention was to insert flight simulators and provide lecture rooms and related facilities into the building. However, their use would not comply with the longstanding user restriction.

Discussions took place with chief officers and a range of advisers. Presentations were made to District and Parish Councillors to inform and persuade them of the importance of CTC Aviation in maintaining the UK’s competitive position for pilot and crew training and thus of the exceptional circumstances justifying a departure from the policy. All this required close working with CTC to ensure a full understanding of their business requirements and critical timescales within which they were working to deliver training contracts.

Following preparation of carefully crafted supporting planning and other justifications and close liaison with Council officers a presentation was made to members of the Planning Committee. A permission was successfully secured that enabled CTC to fit out the unit to their requirements within target timescales.