Vistry Reviews 

My disappointment and frankly, anger, towards Vistry Group's handling of Nottingham Tollerton Airfield and their subsequent forced closure of the Chocks Away Cafe cannot be overstated. Their actions demonstrate a callous disregard for the local community and a prioritization of profit above all else, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many.
For those unfamiliar, Nottingham Tollerton Airfield was more than just a strip of tarmac; it was a vibrant community, a place where aviation enthusiasts gathered, and a local landmark with its own unique charm. At its heart lay the Chocks Away Cafe, a cherished establishment that served as a welcoming hub for pilots, visitors, and locals alike. It was a place of warmth, good food, and camaraderie – a true community asset.
Vistry Group's arrival and subsequent plans for the airfield have been met with understandable concern. However, the manner in which they have seemingly strong-armed the closure of the Chocks Away Cafe feels particularly egregious. Reports from those close to the situation paint a picture of relentless pressure and unreasonable demands placed upon the cafe owners, leaving them with no viable option but to cease trading. This isn't progress; it's corporate bullying, plain and simple.
The loss of the Chocks Away Cafe is a significant blow. It wasn't just a place to grab a coffee; it was the soul of the airfield community. It provided jobs, supported local suppliers, and offered a unique social space that will be sorely missed. Vistry Group's actions have not only deprived individuals of their livelihoods but have also ripped the heart out of a much-loved local institution.
Vistry Group's conduct throughout this process suggests a profound lack of understanding or care for the existing community at Tollerton Airfield. Their focus appears solely on their development plans, with little to no consideration for the human cost of their actions. To force the closure of a thriving local business like the Chocks Away Cafe through what many perceive as bullying tactics is simply unacceptable.
I urge anyone considering purchasing property from Vistry Group in this area, or anywhere for that matter, to take note of their actions at Tollerton Airfield. This is a stark reminder of how corporate interests can, without conscience, dismantle valued community assets. The loss of the Chocks Away Cafe is a tragedy, and Vistry Group bears the responsibility for this devastating blow to the local area. Their actions should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Atop all that, the area is a flood plain, there's significant cultural heritage dating back to WW2 on the Airfield, and there is radioactive material on site too.

Not exactly what makes Vistry Group think this is a suitable area to build houses on that people may never afford, and only used for illegal immigrants as part of Labour's plans to ruin the country.

If you have any compassion or sanity in your heads, Vistry, I demand you immediately do the following:
1) Close your planning applications or remove Tollerton Airfield from them.
2) Compensate the owners of Chocks Away Cafe.
3) Publicly apologise for your actions.

Why have Vistry closed down Chocs away cafe at Tollerton airfield when they don't even have planning permission in place yet. And the forced closure of the airfield on 6th June 25, this land is highly contaminated with absorbs of nasty stuff from ww2 and current firefighter practice, please explain Vistry.

Tollerton Airfield & Chocs Away.

Vistry do not care about the community only themselves and making money at the cost of others. Their actions at Tollerton airfield are selfish and shameful. They say working closely with stakeholders. Political rubbish. What does this actually mean? Provide evidence!

If you reply to this Vistry I don’t want a speech of nonsense words provide me with facts with what you have actually done.

Vistry Group have closed several businesses at the Nottingham airport site. This is well before planning permission has been heard or even granted. Not only has the on site cafe closed, several other businesses within the airfield have also been forced to move and close. This site is of major historical and environmental significance, and this will be destroyed during a development. While the need for housing cannot be denied, there are sites that are not as unique as this one.

I can only describe Vistry group as bullies, who are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to get their own way. Why else would they force viable businesses to close, make innocent people unemployed and take community assets away when they don't even have planning permission to develop the land at Tolerton?

Terrible company

Vistry Homes’ decision to close Tollerton Airport to push for planning permission for 4,000 homes disregards the airfield’s vital role in general aviation, pilot training, and emergency services, including the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. The premature closure, set for June 2025, before planning approval, threatens 70 local jobs, disrupts aviation businesses, and halts training programs, showing a lack of stakeholder engagement. The 2014 Local Plan inclusion overlooked aviation sector consultation, bypassing key users like flying schools and emergency services. This move prioritizes profit over community value, damaging Vistry’s reputation for social responsibility.

Vistry Group’s decision to close down Tollerton Airport is nothing short of disgraceful. This isn’t just the closure of a piece of land, it’s the erasure of a site steeped in local and national aviation history, and a blow to countless people who depended on and cherished what the airfield represented.

Tollerton has long held historic ties to British aviation, with decades of use supporting general aviation, training future pilots, and even providing support during times of national need. By wiping this from the map, Vistry aren’t just building houses, they’re bulldozing a living piece of heritage that deserves preservation, not destruction.

The closure has already seen the beloved Chocks Away Café forced out, a business that wasn’t just a café, but a community fixture. It brought people together, sparked interest in aviation among young visitors, and gave locals a reason to take pride in their area.

Worse still, the local air ambulance, a vital emergency service, has been treated with clear disregard, despite its base of operations being at the airport. Disrupting or displacing this essential service in favour of development is beyond irresponsible.

The removal of flight schools is another massive loss. These schools helped inspire and train the next generation of pilots, many of whom started their dreams at Tollerton. This decision crushes those aspirations and removes a crucial stepping stone into aviation careers.

There are also troubling reports of bullying tactics used by Vistry to force out other long-standing businesses from the airfield. This is not how a company claiming to care about “communities” should behave.

Vistry Group has shown a total lack of respect, for the past, for the community, and for future generations. Their actions at Tollerton Airport should be condemned by anyone who values heritage, opportunity, and public service.

Forcing multiple small businesses to close at Tollerton Airport when they don't even have planning permission to build on the land yet!

It's appalling to knock down Chocs Away Cafe in Nottingham Tollerton Airport and instead build houses. Why can't you leave the cafe where it is and build around the Airfield. You have lost people jobs, caused alot of upset to children and Adults as they live watching the planes go over and the helicopters. It's diabolical and disgusting behaviour all for the sake of building houses. I think you should change your mind and let Chocs Away come back to It's base. Alot of people have got entertainment out of that cafe for 12 years and you Vistry Homes have ruined it.

Vistry are wanting to build on an active Tollerton,Mitts airfield. This is a 95 year old airfield which is currently training future airline and helicopter pilots. They have issued a closure notice for 6 June 2025 although currently they have no planning permission.
The group has been informed of the toxic land and the health issues for both short and long term to those disturbing the land and in the future for the proposed housing
I certainly wouldn't want to see another "toxic town". That is ignoring the listed pillboxes,flood plain, wildlife and probable water pollution to the adjacent Grantham canal

I would like to know what Vistry plans to do to ensure the health and safety of the public, residents and future home owners at the Nottingham Tollerton Airfield site given that Rushcliffe Borough Council have known since 2008 that radioactive waste contamination due to Radium 226 is above national threshold guidelines for causing harm to human health. The Public Health England report of 2021 states clearly land should not be allocated for housing as a change of use where radioactive levels exceed 0.3 mSieverts/ year which is what the RBC found in 2008. I am astounded that RBC did not realise that they had applied the wrong threshold and have not followed the governmental guidance but Vistry also know of this problem and are still pushing ahead with planning applications to build on this contaminated land. I am leaving this review with the sole intention to seek clarity from the Vistry homes board as to what their intentions are given that PHE states this land is too heavily contaminated to be granted planning permission. I know that all the indications point to Vistry seeking a way forward no matter what but seriously ignoring the international regulations on ionising radiation and PHE legal thresholds for radioactive contamination. Even for Vistry this sets a new low bar. Your sincerely Alan

If I could give them a zero I would. They have taken a decision to close down thriving local businesses, resulting in job losses and loss of valued services to the community and for why ….
They want to build lots of new homes (not a problem in itself) on the site of Nottingham City airport in Tollerton. Not only is it an historical site but its vital for the Air Ambulance service.
Sometime ago they submitted a planning application but to date it hasn’t been heard let alone approved by the council. So why take the decision to shut down successful businesses (when so many in the County and City are struggling) and deprive the local community of employment opportunities.
Another question is why they intend to build on a site likely contaminated with PFAS "forever chemicals" from Fire fighting foams and the contamination from WWII activities: adjoining land already found to be contaminated with Radium-226?
I don’t think I trust them. Do you?

Removing local infrastructure for profit seems a poor way to do business

I am really disappointed at the behaviour of Vistry Group re. closure of Tollerton airport, Nottinghamshire to build homes. The airport is so important for air ambulance access to Nottingham and for the next generation of pilots starting their flying careers, and the recent forced closure of Chocks Away airport cafe has been devastating to children across Nottingham who could come and watch planes taking off close up. Homes can be built anywhere, why destroy a site of such cultural and historical (WW2) significance?

The busy, historically important and popular Tollerton Airfield land is heavily contaminated with deadly poisons from the 'bash, burn and bury' disposal of wartime aircraft. But this review isn't about that.

This is about the forced closure of the very busy community resource, 'Chocks Away Café' which received international publicity and sorrow last weekend, and its importance to the crew of the Air Ambulance, which itself will be made homeless as part of Vistry's long term greedy plan to destroy this part of English history.

The air ambulance flew 3 very seriously ill people into Tollerton for transfer to QMC just this last week. Ironically, the last one was in the late afternoon of the final day of Chocks Away's service to these noble folk.
Chocks Away itself being the first very much loved and vital part of this important facility to become a victim of Vistry greed, avarice and bullying.

These dedicated pilots and medics were the final customers of this irreplaceable refreshment facility, taking time to sit, relax and refuel their bodies, souls and spirits after the tension and trauma of the emergency.

That's THREE lives potentially saved in one week, thanks to the facilities at Tollerton. Where will they be able to recharge their human batteries from now on?

Vistry will have blood on their hands and will be ultimately answerable to God for their inhuman greed and avarice. 😠 😡 😤 🤬

Don't bother doing your usual cut and paste whitewash in response. Your actions speak louder than your weasel words.

How about trying to pacify your shareholders by finding the integrity to donate this part of History to a charitable trust and enjoy the publicity accolades and financial benefits.

Evicting a well loved cafe before they even have planning permission. Closing an airfield including its use by emergency services. Terrible company with terrible comms

Forcing the closure of the popular Nottingham City airfield without even having planning permission for their development of over 1000 houses. Not only are they putting a dent in the future of STEM education in the region, and removing a valuable hub in the region… they are planning on building on a sit full of pollution and ‘forever chemicals’ left from the airfield’s history as a WW2 air base. Complete disregard for the thousands of people who use this airfield for business and pleasure.

Why would you build on Tollerton Airfield, potentially unearthing dangerous and toxic materials from its use as a military airfield in WW2? You’ve pushed businesses out when you don’t even have planning permission. Terrible.

Looking for a builder who truly embodies the phrase "community spirit"? Look elsewhere. Vistry's acquisition and closure of Nottingham City Airport is a masterclass in how to alienate an entire town. They've effectively said, "Your jobs? Irrelevant. Your local businesses? Collateral damage. Your children's connection to a historic WWII site? Who cares? Your protests? Noise." When the press inquired, they were likely met with a beautifully crafted statement that said absolutely nothing. If you value your community, your job security, your children's heritage, and a developer with even a shred of social responsibility, then Vistry Homes should be at the very bottom of your list. Their actions are a stark reminder that some companies only see cash signs, not people.