Millions of pounds worth of improvements to a north Wales airfield could help the region’s chances of getting involved in the space race.

Having secured European funding, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet has authorised officers to finalise terms on the £7.5m programme of improvements at Llanbedr, near Harlech.

The Welsh Government owns the former military site but it is leased to Snowdonia Aerospace LLP which works closely with defence contractor QinetiQ.

A recent behind closed doors meeting of Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet saw members delegate officers with the powers to negotiate and sign a contract with Snowdonia Aerospace LLP to authorise the delivery of the planned infrastructure scheme.

This follows a successful application by the authority for £7.5m from the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO), of which £4m will be spent on road improvements with the remaining £3.5m going towards improving the buildings on-site.

Despite being given planning permission last year, the 1.5km Llanbedr bypass is currently suspended after an application was lodged for a judicial review.

The landowner in question had raised concerns that the due process was not fully compliant with the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA), specifically the impact on a nearby Special Area of Conservation, with a renewed planning decision not yet having been made.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “This project to gain European funding has two elements – to improve the site buildings and to build an improved access road as part of the wider bypass scheme, which will help ease local traffic problems.

“Funding for the two elements of the one project is fairly evenly split.

“Gwynedd Council has elected to be the lead authority on this project as it will contribute towards improving traffic flow in the village and also to support the development of the site to create high-value jobs.

“Snowdonia Aerospace is an official project partner as they hold the lease for the buildings.”

According to Gwynedd Council, the move will protect the council’s interests as far as possible, securing the civil use of the development by including a clause that will prohibit the military from making use of the buildings.

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