THREE years after the keys to the "bleak, derelict and unloved" Bicester Airfield base were turned over to Bicester Heritage, plans are in motion to turn itself into a national centre for aviation and motoring.

The former RAF base has since become the UK's first dedicated park for the restoration and display of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and aeroplanes.

And its future will be cemented with a new Heritage Partnership Agreement (HPA). The aim of the agreement is reduce the amount of paperwork needed for repairs, thereby making it easier for work to go ahead.

Last Thursday, members of Cherwell District Council backed the HPA, which provides an agreed set of rules for planned repair works and other interventions.

It also bypasses the need for a repeated series of listed building consent applications, which would otherwise be needed for 60 individual buildings and structures on the site.

Councillor Colin Clarke, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: "RAF Bicester is the quintessential World War II airbase and I am delighted Cherwell is moving forward with this agreement to help conserve this magnificent piece of national history.

"The airfield dates back to the interwar period, and during World War II it was used as a training base.

"It now stands as a unique piece of British history and we are keen to facilitate plans to secure its future."

HPAs are agreements between local authorities and the owners of listed buildings, with this one effectively giving Bicester Heritage listed building consent for general and repeated works on the structures without needing to apply for permission every time.

Mr Clarke added: "By avoiding repeated listed building consent applications, the Heritage Partnership Agreement will free up manpower at the council while letting Bicester Heritage get on with the restoration of this site unhindered."

Since the restoration project at the airfield began in 2013, a total of 35 motoring and aviation businesses have set up shop on 48-acre air base.

It was a hub of aviation in the 1960s but as government cutbacks were made it became vacant and was eventually mothballed by the RAF by 1976.

As well as carrying out everyday repairs, Bicester Heritage is keen to restore some of the perimeter track for use by the classic cars.