Offers are being invited for one of the UK's busiest aviation centres, Gloucestershire Airport, with global real estate agent Savills appointed to market its sale.
The chance to purchase the 350-acre site at Staverton, comprising the airport and vast areas of business space, is described by Savills as 'an extremely rare opportunity' for the right investor, with 'huge potential' for further aviation-related development and growth.
Co-owners Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council announced in November 2023 that they were seeking a new owner to take the airport 'to the next level', following a period of investment and expansion including the appointment of new senior leadership for its operating company, Gloucestershire Airport Limited.
Gloucester City Council leader, Jeremy Hilton, commented: 'The airport already benefits the local economy with many businesses operating out of Staverton, with a substantial number of them being directly related to aviation. The airport needs a capital injection to deliver on its strategy and business plan.
'We need a buyer who shares our confidence in the potential of the business to grow and grow to remain the premier general aviation airport in the south west.'
Jason Ivey, Gloucestershire Airport Limited managing director, added: 'Although both Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucester City Council have been incredibly supportive of the airport over the years, we now enter the next chapter of Gloucestershire Airport’s story and I can’t wait for the business to fully realise its true potential with the right investor.'
Between 2021 and 2022, the airport received almost £10 million of capital investment — funded by GFirst LEP, Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough councils — in the runways and associated infrastructure.
The airport is one of the UK's leading centres for aircraft training — with 102 new pilots graduating from its Skyborne Airline Academy this October 2024 — as well as being used for business travel and private aviation.
Offering two primary tarmac runways and advanced navigation systems, it ranked as the UK’s busiest general aviation airport in 2023, according to Civil Aviation Authority statistics.
The site already has two thriving business parks spanning around 65,000 square metres; and has planning consent for an additional 30,000 square metres on development land.
Ian Simpson, head of leisure and trading at Savills,
said: 'It’s extremely rare for an airport to come to the
market, especially in such a prime location such as benefits Gloucestershire
Airport.
He added: 'There is huge potential for further airport related and ancillary development, with the aim of this process being to find a buyer who will continue aviation operations, as well as deliver further growth in airport related commercial development.'
