Clothall Common Airstrip

The primary reason for closure was land redevelopment for renewable energy. The site was selected for the construction of the large-scale Clothall Common Solar Farm. This change in land use, driven by economic and energy policy factors, made the continuation of aviation activities unfeasible.

The site is now fully occupied by the Clothall Common Solar Farm. The former grass runway and taxiway areas are covered with thousands of solar panels. The land has been completely repurposed for renewable energy generation and is no longer recognizable or usable as an airfield. The aviation infrastructure has been entirely removed.

Clothall Common was a private, unlicensed grass airstrip that served the General Aviation (GA) community. Its significance was local, acting as a base for recreational pilots and private light aircraft owners in the North Hertfordshire area. It typically handled single-engine piston aircraft like Cessnas, Pipers, and microlights. It was a characteristic 'farm strip' airfield, known for its informal atmosphere and importance to local flying enthusiasts, rather than having any major commercial or military history.

There are no plans or realistic prospects for reopening the airstrip. The presence of the large, permanent solar farm infrastructure makes a return to aviation use virtually impossible. The land has been committed to long-term energy generation, and reverting it to an airfield would be economically and logistically prohibitive.