RAF Ansty

The closure was a multi-stage process. Following World War II, its primary military function ceased as part of the UK's military drawdown. The site was then used extensively by Rolls-Royce for aero-engine testing. The final closure as an airfield was due to corporate restructuring at Rolls-Royce, which consolidated its operations at other facilities, rendering the Ansty site and its flying infrastructure redundant. The land was subsequently sold for economic redevelopment into a high-technology business park, which was a more profitable use for the strategically located site.

The site has been completely transformed and is no longer recognizable as an airfield. The runways and original infrastructure have been removed. It has been redeveloped into the **Ansty Park**, a major high-technology and manufacturing hub. Key tenants include:

* **The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC):** A leading research and technology organization bridging the gap between academia and industry.
* **High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC):** A joint venture between Rolls-Royce and the University of Birmingham, focusing on advanced materials and manufacturing processes.
* **London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC):** The manufacturer of the iconic London black cab, which has its global headquarters and production facility on the site.
* **Cadent Gas:** The UK's largest gas distribution network has a major office on the park.

The site is a prime example of successful brownfield regeneration, converting a historic aviation site into a modern centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing.

RAF Ansty has a rich and significant history in British aviation and engineering.

1. **World War II:** Opened in 1936, it was initially used by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft for the production and final assembly of Whitley and, later, Avro Lancaster bombers. It also served as a satellite airfield for the nearby RAF Nuneaton and was used for training, notably by No. 18 (Polish) Operational Training Unit flying Wellington bombers.

2. **Post-War & Cold War Era:** The site became a world-renowned centre for gas turbine and rocket engine development. Initially operated by Armstrong Siddeley, then Bristol Siddeley, and finally Rolls-Royce, it was at the forefront of aerospace technology. Key projects developed or tested at Ansty include:
* **Olympus 593:** The engines for the Concorde supersonic airliner were developed, tested, and overhauled here.
* **Pegasus Engine:** The revolutionary vectored-thrust engine that powers the Harrier 'Jump Jet' family of aircraft.
* **Viper Engine:** A widely used turbojet that powered numerous aircraft, including the BAC Jet Provost trainer.
* **Rocket Motors:** Development of the Stentor rocket engine for the 'Blue Steel' nuclear stand-off missile and engines for the 'Black Arrow' satellite launch vehicle, which successfully placed the Prospero satellite into orbit.

None. The prospect of reopening RAF Ansty as an airport is zero. The site has been completely and irreversibly redeveloped with significant industrial buildings, offices, and infrastructure built directly over the former runways and airfield. The land is now far more valuable as a technology park, and there is no physical space or economic case for it to ever revert to aviation use.