A planning application for a new air ambulance base in the Harborough district has now entered into the decision-making phase – and it could bring 50 new jobs to the area.

The new base is set to replace the services run out of Coventry Airport. The airport itself has closed and set to be made into a manufacturing site, though the Air Ambulance Service has got permission to use the airport until the new base is built.

The application for the new site near Catthorpe has now been validated by Harborough District Council, this means the council will now have to make a decision in the coming months.

The new base would be home to both the Air Ambulance Service and the National Children’s Air Ambulance service.

A computer generated image of how the new air ambulance base might look (Image: Air Ambulance Service)

placeholder image — A computer generated image of how the new air ambulance base might look (Image: Air Ambulance Service)

In the planning application it states that there would be “significant public benefit including new and retained jobs (approx. 50 jobs in total)”.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien said: “I think it’s a really positive development.

“It is a very popular local cause, people do a lot of fundraising for it, and it’s helped an awful lot of people locally.”

He added: “Everyone is very keen on it, and we’ll be keen to see them take the next steps forward to keep the service going and to help people in emergencies.”

The air ambulance appeal has raised £500,000 in five months (photo: The Air Ambulance Service).

South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa said: “I welcome the application for the new air ambulance base, and recognise the incredibly important, lifesaving work these services carry out every day. This new base will be home to both the Air Ambulance and the National Children’s Air Ambulance service at Catthorpe junction.

"The base will provide opportunities locally and having met with the team behind this project, I know that bringing both ambulances together at a single site will help ensure critical care reaches those who need it most, within that vital window that can make the difference between life and death.”

The Air Ambulance Service receives no funding from the government. Peta Wilkinson, the CEO of the organisation, said “Until now we have always needed to use rented premises for our helicopters and rapid response vehicles, but this is no longer sustainable.

“We urgently need a permanent base that is owned by the charity so that we can secure our future and continue to provide care in the air in the fastest time possible.

“This site in Catthorpe is perfect as it lies at the centre of the three counties, with superb access to the M1 and M6. Because of the vital nature of the project, we are investing substantially from our reserves but hope that we can count on the support of the communities we help.”

Just last month, the charity held a gala fundraising dinner as part of its fundraising appeal for the new base – which has raised £500,000 in five months.

The Air Ambulance Service director of fundraising, Oli Hiscoe, said: “The early momentum the campaign has built is wonderful, but we can only maintain it with the generosity and kindness of our friends and the communities we serve.

“We have seen nothing but positive support from everyone who has engaged with the campaign because they recognise not only the need, but the substantial benefits the new base will bring.”

To find out more visit theairambulanceservice.org.uk