Hollywood director Guy Ritchie has secured planning permission to convert staff accommodation at Compton Abbas airfield in Dorset into holiday apartments, despite objections from local residents. The approval pertains to two units—a two-bedroom and a four-bedroom apartment—intended for visitors who wish to stay overnight while participating in flying experiences during the day.

Ritchie purchased Compton Abbas airfield in 2022 and has since developed the site into a popular destination, hosting regular events and flight experiences, including Spitfire flights. He has also opened a smokehouse restaurant and rerouted a 130-year-old public footpath, actions which have drawn criticism from neighbours concerned about environmental impact and increased noise. The airfield is located within the Dorset National Landscape and the Cranborne Chase International Dark Sky Reserve, both considered sensitive environments.

Local opposition has described the ongoing developments as an attempt to transform the airfield into an "aviation theme park by stealth," expressing fears that the eventual goal may be to establish a hotel on the site. Residents have raised concerns about noise and disturbances stemming from the more commercial operations, including numerous events and historic aircraft flying on weekends.

Christopher Dymond, a neighbour, criticized the increased activity, saying the airfield now operates on a commercial basis with frequent events and visitor attractions, which he says disrupt the community and violate historic planning restrictions. Philip Cayford, a member of the Compton Abbas Airfield Monitoring Group, characterized the airfield’s expansion as a persistent concern, noting that it originally functioned as a small private strip for a limited number of aircraft and that previous councils had sought to limit its growth.

Dorset Council reviewed the latest application to repurpose the accommodation and determined there was no planning reason to refuse it. Jamie Francis, a council planning officer, stated that while the owner acknowledges personal financial benefits, the proposal is anticipated to provide economic advantages to the local area. The council concluded that changing the building’s use from staff accommodation to tourist lodging would have a negligible impact on neighbours, air pollution, and airfield operations. The airfield’s existing approval since 2005 allows for on-site live-in staff accommodation, typically justified by security and safety needs.

Ritchie’s ownership of Compton Abbas aligns with his established presence in the area, as he maintains a nearby country estate on the Dorset-Wiltshire border and divides his time between the estate and his London residence. He has hosted high-profile guests at the estate, including celebrities such as David Beckham and Robert Downey Jr.