Further updates are being released on the future of North Weald Airfield following the announcement of Google's investment earlier this year.

In January, it was revealed Google had purchased 52 acres of land at North Weald Airfield, earmarked for a potential future data centre.

This is one of several investments accelerating at North Weald Airfield, according to a report from Epping Forest District Council.

North Weald Airfield, founded for the defence of London in 1916 and boasting a noteworthy role in two World Wars, remains a hub for community, business, and aviation activity.

Alongside state-of-the-art police and air-ambulance helicopters, vintage Battle of Britain era aircraft continue to share the runways, underlining the rich heritage of the site.

Other updates include a planning application for a new control tower which has recently been submitted and is expected to be operational by early 2025.

Epping Forest District Council will continue to operate the gatehouse entrance and control tower until then.

The new tower will be ideally located at the southern tip of the main runway.

The airfield will also see an internal reorganisation, as the North-South runway divides it into two distinct parts.

The land towards the west of the runway, adjacent to the M11, is primarily earmarked for aviation activities.

Major tenants include Aero Legends, Weald Aviation, North Weald Flight Training and Academy Aviation.

Even more notably, the National Police Air Service and Essex and Herts Essex Air Ambulance Trust have invested heavily in new hangars and maintenance facilities.

East of the main runway, the land is zoned for economic development.

It hosts a variety of commercial, storage, and distribution businesses and is also the location of the popular North Weald Market every Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Additionally, the council’s waste and recycling service is set to build a new environmental operations hub depot, following recent planning approval.

The depot will serve as a base for a new fleet of refuse and recycling vehicles run by Epping Forest District Council’s own company, Terra Verde Services (TVS), operating from the old HMRC site starting this November.