Cambridge Airport to Close

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, has said in a statement that it is to close Cambridge Airport by 2030 and turn the site into a 12,000 home housing estate.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group employs more than 6,000 people, many working from the head office in Cambridge.

Christopher Walkinshaw, from Marshall Aerospace, reassured staff that their jobs were secure, saying they were “absolutely at the centre of our planning for this phase of the programme”.

He added: “We have a workforce of nearly 1,500 people in Cambridge who are highly skilled and experienced in the work that we do and we’re really, really keen that any relocation should work for them as well.”

The company has a turnover of more than £2.5 billion and works on commercial and military aircraft from around the world. Their contracts include maintaining the C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft for the RAF.

Marshall said they have now identified three new preferred locations:

• Cranfield, Bedfordshire
• Duxford, Cambridgeshire
• Wyton, Cambridgeshire

Alex Dorrian, Executive Chairman of Marshall said: “This is a momentous day for Marshall, when two opportunities coincide to create a launchpad for ambitious long‐term plans for the future of Marshall and also for Cambridge.

“Our commitment to our businesses, our employees, and to Cambridge is driven directly by our shareholders.”

Marshall will be progressing discussions with stakeholders for all three sites over the coming months and expect to be in a position to make an announcement sometime next year.

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