Savills, the global property consultancy, has secured planning permission for a new East Anglian Air Ambulance base.
East Anglian Air Ambulance is a charity-funded emergency medical services dedicated to delivering advanced critical care to people across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. It serves a population of approximately 3.2 million people.
Plans were submitted in November to move from its current site at Cambridge City Airport to New Shardelowes Farm on Balsham Road, in nearby Fulbourn. The planned closure of Cambridge Airport by 2030 had forced the charity to relocate its Cambridge base.
More than 80 potential sites were assessed to find the best fit for the charity. Despite being located in the Cambridge Green Belt, the Savills East of England planning team was able to demonstrate very special circumstances, leading to the unanimous approval by members of the South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Rosanna Metcalfe, associate director in the Savills East of England planning team, said: “Very special circumstances don’t get much better than the lifesaving care provided by East Anglian Air Ambulance and we are delighted to have helped secure planning approval so this vital charity can continue providing their essential service from a location that best supports their needs.”
The proposed plans include a new airbase with hangar, offices and space for aftercare support, as well as separate accommodation and training facilities for crew members.
Richard Hindson, East Anglian Air Ambulance director of operations and infrastructure, said: “East Anglian Air Ambulance and the owners of Cambridge City Airport, Marshall, have worked together since 2007 to ensure that our Cambridge crew can swiftly attend local people in their moment of greatest need. But that chapter is coming to an end with the planned closure of the airport.
“We have acted quickly to identify a new site for our Cambridge‑based operation that will allow us to continue providing this vital service, which directly treated over 900 people in 2025.
“We are delighted to have been granted planning permission for our new base in Fulbourn, and grateful to all those who supported our application. However, this is just the start of our journey to a new home. Creating a new Cambridgeshire air base, from scratch, is our biggest ever project and we need to raise a significant sum of money to make this happen.
“The new base will safeguard the continuity of our lifesaving air ambulance service and deliver vital improvements in crew welfare, training facilities and public engagement. This is a hugely exciting opportunity and we will be launching an appeal in the coming weeks to help us raise the money needed to build our new home and ensure we can meet the region’s future critical care needs for generations to come.”
East Anglian Air Ambulance also has a base in Norwich. Since being established in 2000, the service has conducted 42,000 missions, treating more than 27,000 patients.
Images: East Anglian Air Ambulance
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