Planning permission has been granted for the development of a new airbase in Edwalton for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) Charity.
The move will provide critical infrastructure to support the expansion of LNAA’s life-saving service. On average, crews respond to four missions a day, and so far in 2026, they have responded to an average of five missions a day.
LNAA’s CEO, Karen Jobling, said: “This is a major milestone for the Charity as part of our strategy for expansion. This second airbase will enable our critical care teams to be by the side of more patients, especially across Nottinghamshire. The airbase location is particularly significant as it is very close to Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) – the Major Trauma Centre for the East Midlands – which does not have a helipad on site.”
Located just south of the A52/A606 roundabout at Edwalton, the site was pledged as a gift to the Charity by local benefactor Mr Brian Wells. It comes after Tollerton Airfield was sold for development, meaning it will no longer serve as a base for LNAA’s Nottingham Critical Care Car or as a landing site for the helicopter.
Mr Wells said: “This is fantastic news, and as a long-time supporter, I am happy that I have been able to help the Charity save more lives. Anyone could need its life-saving care at any time, so this is an important step.”
Last year, LNAA responded to 1,724 incidents, and this year the Charity recorded its busiest January on record, with 167 missions. In June, the crew completed a total of 163 missions, with the busiest day seeing 10 missions attended.
The planned airbase location will provide rapid access to Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), just six miles away.
These kinds of projects require significant funding, and a wonderfully generous donation has been secured from the HELP Appeal Charity towards the build cost.
Robert Bertram, CEO of the HELP Appeal Charity, the only charity in the country funding helipads at NHS hospitals and air ambulance airbases, said:
“We are incredibly proud to support the development of this new airbase. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance carries out such vital work, often in the most challenging circumstances. By contributing £2 million towards this project, we hope to provide the crew with the facilities they need to continue their extraordinary work and ensure that patients across the region receive the fastest, most advanced critical care possible. The £2 million is money we had reserved for a new helipad at QMC, and we hope that, in time, a suitable location will be found, which we will be proud to help fund.”
LNAA’s total project costs are estimated at around £3.8 million. Details of the build are being worked up, with the ambition to cut turf later this summer. It will become part of the Charity’s further expansion plan as it prepares to bring a second helicopter into service in autumn 2027.
Karen added: “This development will be a significant step for the Charity and for the communities we are here to serve. We are so very grateful to both Brian Wells and Robert Bertram for being such a huge part of our growth plans, which will ultimately help to save more lives.”
“We cannot do any of this without our supporters. Every penny we receive is incredibly important and valued.”
LNAA is not government- or NHS-funded and relies entirely on charitable donations. The proposed development is therefore a rare opportunity, enabled by the wonderfully generous donation of land and the fantastically generous financial donation from the HELP Appeal Charity.
