Gloucestershire Airport is at risk of being broken up and sold off for housing, businesses have warned.
Cheltenham Borough and Gloucester City councils have chosen Horizon Aero Group as their preferred bidder for the 350-acre Staverton site, after the firm offered more than the £25m asking price.
But operators at the airport say the deal is full of “red flags.” RGV Aviation claims Horizon has already shown investors around the site with the intention of parcelling land for development — potentially worth £400m.
RGV boss Stuart Vincent told the BBC: “This airport is a vital regional asset and must not be reduced to a land deal”.
Former operations director Darren Lewington added he was “deeply concerned” the site would be completely redeveloped within a decade, warning of a major loss to jobs and the local economy.
Horizon, a joint venture between UK-based Vayu Aviation Services and India’s Vensa Infrastructure, was set up in January and has no proven track record in running airports.
Councils insist the buyer has “demonstrated a clear commitment” to keeping the airport viable. A 50-year covenant will prevent housing being built on the site, according to Gloucester City Council leader Jeremy Hilton, who dismissed redevelopment fears as “nonsense.”