Nottingham firm’s leap into aerospace sector sees heliport double capacity

The architectural division of Nottingham-based Acres Group has successfully designed its first heliport – allowing the existing Nottingham Heliport site to double in capacity.

Acres Architects has designed a new 800 sq m hangar and offices at the site in Widmerpool, south Nottinghamshire to provide additional space for the Air Ambulance Service and international helicopter dealer Savback Helicopters, which first established a presence at Nottingham Heliport in 2021.

Planning chiefs at Rushcliffe Borough Council have now approved the proposals, clearing the way for Acres’ inaugural foray into the aerospace sector to take flight.

The new hangar will comfortably house up to three helicopters.

Edward Acres, owner and managing director of Acres Group, said: “Since I launched Acres Architects in 2008, we have grown enormously and fulfilled a huge array of development types. But this is the first time we’ve accepted a heliport project, or indeed anything in the aerospace field.

“We spent a lot of time, carefully considering design, materials and the surrounding environment, as well as consulting with industry experts, the planning department and local people before submitting our ideas.

“It’s fantastic that, at our first attempt, Rushcliffe Borough Council saw enough merit in it to grant its approval. I guess it’s now onwards and upwards, quite literally!”

No significant increase in road traffic accessing the site from the nearby A46 is expected.