The £1.5 million given to EHAAT is part of the £10 million that the Government made available to support the funding of capital projects for the 18 air ambulance charities in England, as announced in his Budget Statement last Autumn by Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond.

The total cost of the new airbase falls in the region of £4 million and, in addition, it costs in excess of £750,000 a month for EHAAT to remain in operation, including all charitable costs. As such, the charity explained that it continues to depend on the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to keep it flying and saving lives.

Within his statement last year, the Chancellor said: “Across the length and breadth of England, our air ambulance services work tirelessly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to get those with life-threatening illnesses and injuries to the expert medical care they need. They do a fantastic job and today I am making £10 million of funding to help them go on doing so.”

A planning application for EHAAT’s new airbase at North Weald was submitted to Epping Forest District Council last December and a decision is expected shortly.

Jane Gurney, Chief Executive Officer of EHAAT said: “We are delighted to receive this contribution from Government. It will mean that some of the funds initially put aside for our new premises at North Weald can now be used to help develop and improve the life-saving service we provide for patients. We value the support of the communities we serve and are thankful for their continued support.”