Plymouth City Airport

Plymouth City Airport
Name	Plymouth City Airport
Iata	PLH
Icao	EGHD
Type	Public
City served	Plymouth
Location	Plymouth Dock/Roborough
Elevation ft	467
Elevation m	142
Pushpin label	PLH
R1 number	06/24
R1 length m	1,463
R1 length ft	4,800
R1 surface	Asphalt

Plymouth City Airport

Plymouth City Airport was a municipal aerodrome serving Plymouth, Devon in southwest England from the early 20th century until permanent closure in 2011. The site functioned as a civil and occasional military airfield hosting scheduled services, charter flights, flight training and emergency operations, linking regional centres such as London Gatwick, Bournemouth and Isles of Scilly. Its operational life intersected with wider transport networks including Great Western Railway, maritime connections to Plymouth Sound and regional road arteries.

History

The aerodrome originated as a Royal Flying Corps landing ground near Roborough in the period between the First World War and the Second World War, and was later requisitioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Postwar civilian operations expanded under municipal control influenced by local authorities including Plymouth City Council and regional bodies such as Devon County Council and South West of England Regional Development Agency. Airlines like British European Airways and later independent carriers established routes that connected to London Heathrow, Manchester Airport, Birmingham Airport, and seasonal links to Isles of Scilly. The airport featured in national debates about regional connectivity involving figures from Department for Transport and organisations like Civil Aviation Authority and Air Transport Association of the United Kingdom (ATAUK). Financial pressures prompted interventions by entities such as Flybe (formerly Jersey European Airways) and private investors including Tavis Associates-style consortia. Planning disputes engaged the Planning Inspectorate and local MP constituencies including representatives from Plymouth Sutton and Plymouth Moor View. Over time changing patterns of air travel, competition from Exeter Airport and the expansion of Road haulage and rail services influenced decline.

Facilities and infrastructure

The single asphalt runway 06/24 measured approximately 1,463 metres and supported turboprop and light jet operations used by types like De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and ATR 42. Terminal facilities included a small passenger building, apron stands, air traffic services coordinated with National Air Traffic Services procedures, and fire rescue categories compliant with Civil Aviation Authority guidance. On-site services encompassed general aviation clubs including Plymouth Flying Club (analogous organisations), flight training schools, aircraft maintenance organisations and occasional Royal Navy helicopter detachments from nearby HMS Drake at Devonport Dockyard. The airfield perimeter bordered areas such as Roborough Down and infrastructure linked to A38 (M5) road and regional bus operators like Stagecoach South West. Navigational aids and lighting complied with standards promulgated by International Civil Aviation Organization and domestic regulators.

Airlines and destinations

Throughout its operation the airport supported scheduled services by carriers such as Air Southwest, Flybe, Aurigny Air Services, Manx2-style operators, and charter flights by companies similar to Thomson Airways. Destinations included London Gatwick, Bournemouth Airport, Manchester Airport, and island services to St Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly and seasonal leisure routes to Jersey Airport and Guernsey Airport. The route network evolved with codeshare and franchise arrangements observed elsewhere in European aviation and often reflected market shifts driven by route subsidies from regional development initiatives and occasional assistance from bodies like European Union structural funds.

Accidents and incidents

Operational history recorded a small number of incidents typical for regional aerodromes, involving hard landings, bird strikes and mechanical failures investigated under procedures of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Notable events intersected with emergency responses from Devon and Cornwall Police, South Western Ambulance Service, and HM Coastguard units operating in Plymouth Sound. Historic wartime losses near the site were part of broader Battle of Britain-era activity in southwest England, while postwar safety measures followed contemporaneous changes in Civil Aviation Authority regulation and international safety practices.

Closure and redevelopment

Persistent financial deficits, runway constraints relative to modern jet operations and competing capacity at Exeter Airport contributed to suspension of scheduled services and eventual closure in 2011 following decisions by Plymouth City Council and stakeholder consultations with organisations such as Homes and Communities Agency. Subsequent redevelopment plans envisaged housing projects linked to national policy frameworks including Affordable housing initiatives and local planning led by Plymouth City Council planners. Proposals invoked statutory instruments under Town and Country Planning Act 1990 processes and attracted interest from developers, community groups and transport campaigners. The former airfield site has been subject to phased redevelopment proposals integrating green space, residential neighbourhoods and employment zones, reflecting urban regeneration models used in other former aerodrome conversions like Bournemouth Airport peripheral developments and the Docklands transformation.

Transport links and access

While operational the airport connected to regional transport arteries including the A38 road, local bus services run by operators such as First South West and rail links via Plymouth railway station on the Great Western Main Line and branch services to Exeter St Davids. Taxis, private hire firms and charter coach companies provided onward connections to destinations such as Plymouth Hoe, Mayflower Quarter and industrial estates at Langage Business Park. Accessibility debates referenced national transport policy from bodies like Department for Transport and rival regional airport catchment analyses.

Cultural references and legacy

The airfield features in local cultural memory, being cited in histories of Plymouth and documented by community heritage groups, museums like Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, and aviation enthusiasts associated with organisations such as Royal Aeronautical Society. It appears in regional literature, oral histories collected by Plymouth Libraries and media coverage from outlets including BBC South West and The Herald (Plymouth). The closure influenced civic discussions about urban land use, referenced in campaigns by preservationists and commentators connected to networks like Town and Country Planning Association and academic studies at institutions such as the University of Plymouth.

Category:Airports in England Category:Buildings and structures in Plymouth, Devon