Introduction
This post explains how to submit online comments to support Penzance Heliport’s planning application (PA25/04955) to have some restrictive operating conditions relaxed.
As with the two previous Penzance Heliport planning applications (both seeking planning permission to build the current heliport) opposition is very well organised and very well funded.
As of 16 April, there were a total of 233 public comments recorded on Cornwall Council’s online planning register with 178 ‘objecting’ 48 ‘supporting’ and 7 ‘neutral’.
Public comments for and against planning proposals matter. They have to have to be considered by planning officers (and councillors if taking the final decision).
Background
The Penzance – Isles of Scilly helicopter service first started from Penzance in 1964. It closed in Oct 2012 after 48 years continuous service. The service used mainly Sikorsky 61 helicopters which could carry around 24 passengers (massive compared to today’s aircraft). Competition arrived in 1984 with the IOSSCO’s launch of Skybus. The loss of the helicopter service in Oct 2012 damaged the economy of the Isles of Scilly and had a negative economic impact on Penzance.
In 2016 Tresco Island Ltd launched plans for a new service from a new Heliport located approximately 400 metres away from the old heliport. The planning application was vigorously resisted by the ISSCO who sought Judicial Review of the 2017 planning approval decision in the High Court. The first planning decision was withdrawn and a second planning application made. The second application was approved by councillors (unanimously) in 2018 but with very tight operating conditions compared to those applied to the historic service operated by BIH. The new heliport started operating in March 2021. ISSCO launched a competitor helicopter service (Island Helicopters) from Lands End Airport but this was a short-lived venture (May 2018 to Feb 2019).
The current planning application was accepted by Cornwall Council on 24 July 2025 and over the last 9 months significant concessions have been agreed.ted. The current 'whittled down' list of changes are listed below.
What is this Application About
Below is the 'whittled down' list of changes proposed by Penzance Heliport (Tresco Island Ltd) - these are 'revised proposals' submitted by letter on 18 Nov 25
Proposed Variations For absolute clarity, a full list of the specific amendments to the conditions sought include the following:
Condition 26 – Variation no longer sought.
Condition 27 – To increase the permitted noise limit by 2db above the AW139 threshold, enabling the heliport to accommodate the full range of helicopters under its Category 1 and 2 licences.
Condition 28 - To allow engine testing from 07:30, Monday to Saturday, limited to no more than three occasions per week.
Condition 29 – Variation no longer sought.
Condition 30 – To amend Sunday flying hours to between 10:00 and 13:00, applicable only in the circumstances already specified—namely, emergencies, public safety, or where adverse weather on preceding days resulted in cancelled flights. An additional caveat is proposed to include circumstances where technical issues on previous days prevented scheduled flights.
Condition 31 – To introduce a corresponding caveat allowing rescheduled Sunday flights where operations were cancelled due to technical issues on earlier days.
Condition 38 – Removal of condition. The requirement of this condition has been fully satisfied through the submission of a noise report as part of this Section 73 application. As the condition did not require any ongoing noise monitoring or further compliance measures, it is now considered redundant and unnecessary, and its removal is therefore justified.
(For a table of current conditions and proposed conditions see the original letter from CarneySweeney, Planning Agents, dated 18 Nov 2025 on Cornwall Council’s planning register).
What is this Application Not About
To quote the Planning Agent:
"In response to comments from statutory consultees and third parties, it is necessary to state categorically that variations are NOT sought to permit:
An increase in the number of flights permitted.
An increase in flying hours.
Pleasure flights
Unlimited private flights.
Removal of any obligation for ongoing monitoring – Condition 38 did not require any ongoing monitoring; accordingly, no continuing monitoring obligations were imposed as part of the permission.
Any other relaxation of planning controls."
It is important each supportive comment appears to be a genuine opinion whilst raising valid points (what are termed 'material planning considerations'. See list of "Potentially Valid Reasons” in the next section below.
Your comments should be politely expressed (for maximum impact).
Avoid libellous comments.
Use your own words and expressions. My example at the end is just an aid/prompt. A short objection can still be highly effective.
The number of supportive comments count so if you have a partner or friend with similar views encourage them to file a supportive comment as well.
I may have missed important points about the current service/transport situation so add your own points.
It is easier to prepare your text comments using Word or similar word processing application and then just cutting and pasting the text into the Council’s online form.
You might want to review existing public comments in Cornwall Council's online register before posting your own comment.
There are many ‘red herrings’ amongst objections. See extract from Planning Agent’s letter listing these above under "What this application is NOT about".
Check List of Potentially Valid Reasons to Support the Application
The Heliport provides an essential service:
a. The Helicopter service is a lifeline service serving the Isles of Scilly. The current planning restrictions unreasonably hobble the service for islanders and add costs which increase the ticket price.
b. The Helicopter service is wrongly portrayed as an elitist service by detractors. Air travel is the only travel option in the winter months and ticket prices are similar whichever air service is used.
c. The community on the islands is under demographic pressure (it is shrinking) and the high cost and difficulty of travelling to and from the islands are major contributory factors. We don’t avoidable obstacles to travel.
d. The Helicopter service is essential for every Island household and for the economy which is highly dependent on visitors.
e. The helicopter service serves Tresco unlike the competitor air service.
Sunday Hours. It is rare for the helicopter to operate on a Sunday but when it does it is important flights arrive in Penzance in the morning or early afternoon to allow onward travel by train. Extra nights in a Penzance hotel/B&B just add additional cost and delay to a journey already delayed from the Saturday before.
Noise. ‘Noise’ and how it is perceived and measured is a deeply technical matter. It is reasonable to note that the previous service operated for 48 years with the much larger and noisier Sikorsky 61 helicopter. Those living near the heliport or on the approach path can comment on their subjective experience of the noise.
Engine Tests. Many unplanned maintenance tasks require an engine test, this is not necessarily to test the engine itself but rather to power up all the entire system (i.e replacing a leaking hydraulic line). Permitting engine tests from 7.30 a.m. rather then from 08.00 allows helicopters fixed over night to be signed off before the start of scheduled flying the next morning. The alternative (current situation) means quite minor maintenance tasks identified at the end of the flying day automatically delay the next days flying schedule became tests cannot be performed until after the flying day has started. Don't feel obliged to comment on 'engine testing'.
Example Public Comment
I have drafted some example comments below depending on whether you are an islander, resident of Penzance or a visitor. Use your own words, the example is a guide/prompt not a ‘bible’. You ‘own’ your comment.
Penzance Resident:
I support this application to amend the conditions attached to planning permission for Penzance Heliport.
The Heliport provides an essential service for islanders, especially in the winter when there is no ferry service. I can hear helicopter flights from the Heliport from where I live but I don’t find them especially intrusive as they only occur during working hours on weekdays and Saturdays.
Penzance has had a Heliport since the 1960s and it worked successfully for 48 years using the much larger S61 helicopter. I don't consider the new heliport a problem of the request to relax some conditions unreasonable.
Visitor:
I support the application to amend the conditions attached to planning permission for Penzance Heliport.
I am a regular visitor to the Isles of Scilly and, much though I enjoy my stays on the Islands, transport to and from the Islands can be nightmarish with any disruption adding lots of cost and delay.
I was delighted when the new helicopter service started in 2021 but it appears more restricted in its operation than the previous BIH service which, after decades of successful operation, ended in 2012.
I believe it is particularly important than the rare Sunday flights arrive in Penzance in the morning to aid onward travel by rail. It is bad enough to have ones flight off the islands cancelled on a Saturday thereby requiring an extra night’s accommodation on the islands but a late afternoon flight on Sunday means an additional overnight stay in Penzance as well.
IOS Resident:
I support the application to amend the conditions attached to planning permission for Penzance Heliport.
The Heliport provides an essential service to islanders. For 4 months of the year air travel is the only option for travelling to/from the islands. The cost of travelling by air is broadly similar whether travelling by fixed wing or helicopter (it is not an ‘elitist service’ just for visiting high rollers – it can often be the only service to/from the islands).
It is important that the rare Sunday flights allow for onward travel from Penzance by rail. Sunday flights typically only occur when Saturday flights have been disrupted and arriving in the later afternoon on Sunday often imposes an additional night in a hotel/B&B in Penzance meaning more cost and additional delay.
The proposed amended conditions have been whittled down through discussion and need to be accepted. The previous helicopter service operated successfully for 48 years within more flexible conditions and with a much larger and noisier helicopter (the Sikorsky 61).
How to Register a Comment.
You can view the application and supporting documents by visiting Cornwall Council’s online planning register here https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/online-planning-register/ . Search for the application using references PA25/04955 .
To file a comment you first have to register with Cornwall Council (see link in planning portal when you try and make a comment).
Having already registered you can file a comment. Your personal details will automatically fill many of the boxes of the online form.
Click on ‘Comments’ tab
Click on ‘Make a Comment ‘
Complete authentication (enter code sent to your mobile phone)
Select 'Commentor Type' (select ‘Member of the Public’)
Stance: select “Support”
Reason: select ‘Residential Amenity’ (the form requires a box to be ticked – there are very limited options)
Add your comments in the text box (best prepared in Word and cut & pasted into the text box).
You will get an email confirmation of your online comment submission.
Tell other like minded individuals you have submitted a comment. Use social media if it suits you.
Prepared by Dick Cliffe Email: dick.cliffe@gmail..com
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