ISLE of Wight-based Britten-Norman has signed a new two-year lease for the Daedalus Airfield in Lee-on-the-Solent in a bid to put the Gosport peninsula back on the aviation map.

The new lease from the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) will allow the continued operation of the airfield which had been under the management of the Hampshire Police Air Support Unit.

Fly BN Ltd, Britten-Norman’s airfield management subsidiary, will have full responsibility for day-to-day operations at Daedalus Airfield.

Pete Dalby, the company’s airfield manager, said: “We pride ourselves on offering a safe, friendly and welcoming service to both regular airfield operators and any new visitors that we can attract.

“Our aim is to put the Gosport peninsula back on the aviation map as a place t welcomes visitors to this important heritage area.”

Britten-Norman already has a manufacturing and aircraft maintenance base at the site. The lease also includes agreements between Seeda and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).