London Oxford Airport is committed to local community and surrounding environment

London Oxford Airport is acutely aware of its place within the local infrastructure and the impact of its activities on the local community.   As a hub of over 25 individual businesses, collectively employing well over 1000 people, the airport aspires to attract more companies here, ideally involved in aviation and aerospace activities.

Accordingly, we will engage with our local authority – Cherwell District Council, on all matters pertaining to future development and aspirations, whilst we also hold four monthly Airport Consultative Committee meetings with representatives from the local community and other stakeholders with interests in what the airport does.

Villages most likely to see overflying traffic near airport

Noise issues are dealt with by our team and any communication on such matters is recorded and any ‘hot-spots’ or trends assessed and investigated.    A noise abatement plan is published, occasionally updated and made available to pilots and operators via our Noise Abatement page, be they rotary wing (helicopters) or fixed wing aircraft.

Since 2005, when the airport refurbished and widened the runway and installed a precision landing system (ILS), the airport committed to a Section 106 Agreement with the local authority, placing for the first time, limits on operating hours and total movements at the airport.    Additionally, there are limits on the hours when jet engine testing can be undertaken.

The Section 106 commitments are summarised as follows:

1. 1. No movements between the hours of Midnight and 06:00 unless:

• • • Any Emergency Services (Police, HEMS etc.)
    • Any Emergency incl. diversions from other airports for weather or another reason the other airport is unusable
    • Air Ambulance Flights (incl. medevac, organ transplant etc.)

No more than 500 such exempted flights a year

1. 2. No training circuits before 07:00 and after 23:00 any day

1. 3. No more than 160,000 movements a year (excluding Emergency flights) of which:

• • • No more than 500 jet movements with ICAO Chapter II or worse noise certification
    • No more than 2,000 jet movements for aircraft over 50 tonnes MTOW

1. 4. Static engine testing for jet aircraft should be in a designated zone and should be for no more than up to six hours weekdays and three hours at weekends and not before 07:00 and after 19:00 any day

As a privately-owned business, the airport aspires to continually grow and develop its property, attracting new business to the area, albeit in a planned, sustainable manner and all significant proposed development will be tabled with the planning authority as required.

Certain aviation-related development to meet operational needs, is allowable under Permitted Development – Part 8, Class F to Schedule 2, of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and the airport will use these rules for example when building a new hangar or other property hosting activities that have to be based on an airport, along with most aviation-related physical infrastructure.

From time-to-time any significant proposals for major development, or for local airspace or flight procedural changes, will have associated stakeholder consultations and links to such consultations placed on this website.

Oxford Airport ‘Call for Sites’ Representation – Cherwell Local Plan Review 2040

Oxford Airport ‘Regulation 18’ Representation (2023) – Cherwell Local Plan Review 2040

Noise Concerns and Complaint Form

Daily Training Slot Schedule & Availability

Noise Abatement (guidance for pilots)

Airport Consultative Committee

Guide to Local Airspace (for our neighbours)

Oxford Airport Circuit Pattern (for our neighbours)

Oxford Airport Noise Contours (15.5 MB pdf)

Airport History

The UK Government’s current strategy for UK Aviation (a 10 year plan) – Flightpath to the Future

Guide to UK’s General Aviation (2023)

For further information on these matters please contact: