New hangar approved for Portland HeliOps
Residents on Portland had been worried about an increase in noise levels
Agreement for the expansion of the Portland heliport site has now been signed off – after months of negotiating terms and conditions.
Dorset councillors unanimously agreed the ‘in principle’ proposal in autumn 2021 for a large hangar, close to the Portland harbour waterside, with accommodation for pilots and crew.
The agreement just reached between the council and the site operators includes an index-linked payment of just over £4,000 towards the mitigation of the “adverse effects of the development on the integrity of the Chesil and Fleet European sites.”
The next stage in the process, approval for site landscaping, is expected to be unopposed by Dorset Council. Approval will also have to be given, before work starts on the site, to a surface water management scheme.
There had been concerns about the effects the expansion would have on nearby residents, Portland Castle and the natural environment, but the company said there was unlikely to be any increase in flying, or the hours the site will be in use.
When the proposal was first put forward in 2020 fears over noise were among residents’ main concerns.
Said Portland councillor Paul Kimber last year: “I understand HeliOps may be replacing their existing Sea King Mark 41s with a new aircraft, the Sea Lion. We are concerned that their proposal for a new maintenance hangar will require engines to be tested on the ground resulting in more noise and pollution.”
Similar concerns came from neighbouring ward councillor Brian Heatley who told the council planning team: “There has been considerable public concern about the noise created by the exisiting HeliOperations flights over Portland and also over the adjacent Rodwell and Wyke Ward which I represent… HeliOperations statement that the new building will not result in any increase in noise cuts little ice with local residents; it is the present level that is unacceptable… If there is a satisfactory solution to the noise issue I support the application, but if not I oppose it.”
Most of the expansion at the site will be a new building, alongside existing commercial buildings, for the service and maintenance of helicopters, most of which are to be brought to Portland by road.
Planning officers acknowledged concerns about helicopter engine noise and pollution worries but said neither issues were the subject of the planning proposal with the site currently having no limits on flying times.
Around thirty public letters had opposed the proposal – some claiming the four storey building would be out of keeping with nearby buildings.
More than a hundred letters had been written to Dorset Council in support of the plans, many pointing out that Portland had, for decades, been a helicopter base.
The new building will be able to accommodate three helicopters at a time, more if the rotor arms are not in place, for maintenance and servicing which can take up to four months at a time.
The proposal also allows for an increase from 32 to 70 parking spaces on the site.
The Osprey Quay site provides search and rescue training for UK and foreign aircrew as well as its maintenance and engineering work. Until 1999 it was part of the former Portland Naval Base with the site then being used by search and rescue until June 2017.
HeliOperations company chief executive, Steve Gladstone, told councillors at the time the outline application was agreed that the Portland site was providing significant economic benefits to the area, including 40 well paid local jobs with the business sourcing materials and services from local companies when it could.
The new building will extend at a right angle from the existing hangar towards the harbour alongside Osprey Quay units 22-26 to the west. A large, glazed frontage will overlook the harbour with 12 bedrooms and training rooms. The building will also have offices, crew rooms and a flight and winch simulator.