Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) has received planning permission from Epping Forest District Council for new premises at North Weald which will secure the future of the North Weald operation of the Charity.

EHAAT will make use of a one-off grant of £1.5 million from the Government to help pay for the new Airbase, which will cost around £4.5 million.

Construction of the building will begin next year and is scheduled to be complete during Winter 2020.

Jane Gurney, Chief Executive Officer at EHAAT said: “This is fantastic news. A lot of hard work has gone into these plans over many months, so it is great news to get the green light. The new building will give us security of tenure and will result in significant cost savings compared to leasing a new building built to the same specification.”

As well as facilities for aircraft, vehicles and aircrew, the building will include space for training, mentoring, patient liaison and cross training with other emergency services, which will benefit both EHAAT and the local pre-hospital care community.

It will also provide a visitor centre which will allow EHAAT to welcome and engage with their supporters plus space for the EHAAT Hertfordshire Fundraising Team to work more closely with their clinical colleagues.

In addition to the proposed new Airbase at North Weald, the Charity is also undertaking improvement works to the facilities at its Earls Colne Airbase.