Daedalus Drive

Street guide, Lee-on-the-Solent

Daedalus Drive is a major residential road marking the extraordinary transformation of the former HMS Daedalus naval airfield site into a modern mixed-use community, representing one of the most significant regeneration projects in Lee-on-the-Solent's recent history. The street connects the historic Daedalus Village development, which sits on the site of the historic RNAS Lee-on-Solent base that operated continuously from 1917 until 1996, a span of nearly 80 years during which the airfield played a crucial role in British naval aviation. During that operational period, the base hosted aircraft ranging from early seaplanes through to sophisticated jet fighters, and it achieved extraordinary operational significance during the Second World War, with 435 sorties flown from HMS Daedalus in support of Operation Neptune, the highest total achieved by any UK airfield on D-Day. The street provides access to new homes, community facilities, and the Hovercraft Museum, which celebrates the extraordinary connection between Lee-on-the-Solent and Christopher Cockerell's invention of the hovercraft. The development of Daedalus Drive and the broader Daedalus Village represents successful conversion of a sensitive historic military site into vibrant residential community whilst preserving crucial heritage connections and interpretive facilities. Daedalus Drive serves as the focal point of the town's significant regeneration project, with new residential properties built to contemporary standards but designed with respect for the site's military aviation heritage. The street's naming reflects the site's naval aviation history, with the HMS Daedalus designation deriving from the legendary figure in Greek mythology associated with flight and invention. The Hovercraft Museum stands as a permanent reminder of the site's innovation legacy, with visitors from across the UK and internationally exploring the extraordinary history of hovercraft development at Lee-on-the-Solent. Modern properties along Daedalus Drive have attracted residents drawn by contemporary construction standards, new infrastructure, and the genuine novelty of living in a space with such significant recent history. The site's successful regeneration demonstrates sensitive planning that balanced new residential development with heritage preservation, creating a community that is simultaneously modern and historically grounded. Daedalus Drive connects the new development to the broader Lee-on-the-Solent town structure, with bus services and walking routes linking residents to established town centre facilities.