Guy Ritchie gets go-ahead to build Airbnbs on his airfield after neighbours accuse him of trying to build ‘aviation theme park by stealth’

Film director Guy Ritchie has been given permission to set up Airbnbs at the historic airport.

Neighbors were not too happy about plans to turn staff accommodation at Compton Abbas Airport in Dorset into holiday homes.

They accused him of trying to build an aviation theme park ‘secretly’ and ‘by any means necessary’, with no regard for the local environment.

Locals fear his ultimate goal is to build a hotel in the sensitive area, which lies in the Dorset National Landscape and is part of the Cranborne Chase International Dark Sky Reserve.

Major improvements have already been initiated at the airport by Lock.Director of Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Since purchasing the airport in 2022, he has opened a smokehouse restaurant and remodeled the 130-year-old public footpath.

Spitfire flight experiences were also taken here and the airfield It is a popular visitor destination with events held throughout the year.

Plans to convert staff accommodation into two holiday flats, one with two bedrooms and the other with four bedrooms, have now received planning permission.

Once a ‘polite little grass airfield’, this area now attracts visitors to watch aviation demonstrations and take part in flying experiences. A neighbor said that entering his garden was now ‘2. He said it felt like walking onto a World War II movie set.

They will allow guests to stay the night while enjoying their flying experience during the day.

Neighbor Christopher Dymond said the regular flying activity was causing distress and inconvenience to neighbours, and described going into his garden as ‘2. He likened it to walking onto a World War II movie set.

Mr Dymond said: ‘Compton Abbas Airport was until recently a small, grass airport run for local flying enthusiasts and was carefully managed to reflect its incredibly sensitive location and close proximity to local villages.

‘The airport is now managed on a much more commercial basis and is developing, largely through secrecy, into an aviation theme park with a multitude of events, shows and visitor attractions.’

The airport has had a flat permit for live-in staff since 2005.

Upon submission of Mr Ritchie’s planning application, local residents opposed allowing the manager to change the use of the staff flat; They said this was for a member of staff to live on site to ensure ‘safety and security’.

Mr Dymond continues: ‘The current flat was permitted on the grounds that it was absolutely necessary for only one member of staff to be on the premises for safety and security reasons.

‘If this safety and security requirement is no longer a necessity, there are provisions in the planning legal agreements for the use to be discontinued, but not for it to be opened to visitors who pay to stay on the site without any staff.’

But Dorset Council disagreed and said there was no planning reason to reject it.

Planning officer Jamie Francis said: ‘The owner has made it clear that they are seeking to create additional sources of income for the airport which will provide personal gain, but it is also considered that this will bring economic benefits to the area.

‘In general, it is considered acceptable to reuse the building for tourist accommodation rather than staff accommodation.

‘A condition has been imposed to ensure that the accommodation is only used for short-term rentals and not for permanent accommodation.

Dorset Council rejected local complaints and said the commercial benefit would help the local economy. Here is a two-seater Spitfire similar to the one used in Compton Abbas Airport taxis.

Since buying the airport in 2022, Mr Ritchie has already opened a smokehouse restaurant and rerouted the 130-year-old public walkway.

The airfield is in the Dorset National Landscape and is part of the Cranborne Chase International Dark Sky Reserve. Neighbors believe planning permission in sensitive area granted ‘without consideration of environmental issues’

‘The conversion of one unit of staff accommodation and one office unit into two units of holiday accommodation is considered acceptable.

‘In addition, two units of holiday accommodation per two units of accommodation is also considered acceptable.

‘The Council therefore sees no reason to refuse the application on this basis.

‘The impact of holiday accommodation is expected to have a negligible impact on neighbours’ comfort, air pollution and the general business and flight activities of the airport.’

The airport is near Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estate on the Dorset/Wiltshire border.

He previously shared Ashcombe House with ex-wife Madonna, and now he and wife Jacqui split their time between their home in London and their country property.

Here he hosted famous friends such as David Beckham and Robert Downey Jnr.

Despite his flamboyant clientele and extravagance, Mr. Dymond was having none of it.

He added: ‘Annoyance and inconvenience to local residents has increased significantly and many of the historic planning restrictions governing the airport are not being complied with.

‘Often walking into your garden on a summer weekend is like walking into a World War II movie set, with noisy historic planes constantly flying overhead.’

Philip Cayford, neighbor and member of the Compton Abbas Airport Monitoring Group, said: ‘It started as a small private strip that could accommodate up to six small aircraft.

‘It has long been accepted that the initial permission was a planning error; Councils have since recognized the need to block expansion encouraged by successive owners.

‘The current application appears to be yet another attempt to increase the size and profitability of this site in any way, regardless of environmental issues or inconvenience to local people.

‘Approval of this application would constitute a further step in the commercial development of one of the most beautiful and sensitive rural landscapes in the south of England and is therefore highly inappropriate.’