Yorkshire Air Ambulance Northern Airbase takes flight

Permission has been granted for the construction of a new airbase on land outside Skipton on Swale, with the charity now looking to appoint a main contractor.

Designed by Leeds-based Group Ginger, a start and completion date is yet to be confirmed although the charity would like to be in by summer next year.

Having spent years looking for a site to move to, Yorkshire Air Ambulance will purchase the land located 3.5 miles from its current base at RAF Topcliffe, where it has been a tenant for the last 13 years.

Alanbrooke Barracks, part of RAF Topcliffe, is due to close by 2031 as part of the Better Defence Estate plan, leaving the future of the site uncertain.

Funding for the project is expected to come from a mix of savings, donations, and government grants.

The base will mirror the facilities established at YAA’s Nostell air support unit near Wakefield, and will provide a long-term home for the charity, ensuring both stability and a commitment to advancing its capabilities in the future.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance operates a fleet of Airbus H145 D3 helicopters, serving a population of five million people across four million acres.

Mike Harrop, chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are delighted with this news and look forward to starting the build process in due course.

“This has already been a long journey for YAA and, after searching for a number of years, to now secure the right site for our new Northern Airbase is very exciting.

“The new site at Skipton on Swale is only 3.5 miles away from our current base at RAF Topcliffe, however with the future of the military site uncertain, the need to ensure our future in this part of the region was paramount.

“We are delighted that the outskirts of Skipton on Swale will be our permanent home for years to come and allow us to maintain continuity and stability for our critical care service.”