Old Sarum Airfield plans refused by Wiltshire Council

Members of the strategic planning committee voted unanimously against the proposal at their meeting in Trowbridge County Hall, on Wednesday, August 14.

The application sought outline planning permission for approximately 315 homes and employment, commercial and leisure spaces, which would include a control tower, heritage centre, visitor centre, café restaurant, parachute centre, aviation archives and aircraft hangars.

Plans for hangar inspired apartment buildings. (Image: Old Sarum Airfield Ltd)

However, 294 comments and a petition had been submitted to the plans, raising concerns and issues regarding the impact of the development on the surrounding area and the airfield itself.

Dating back to the First World War, Old Sarum Airfield is one of the oldest operational airfields in the UK and contains three grade II listed hangars.

One of these hangars, which recently collapsed, was set to be repaired under Old Sarum Airfield Ltd’s plans.

Cllr Annie Riddle, from Salisbury City Council, was among the numerous individuals attending the meeting to speak in objection to the application.

She described the airfield as a site “of national significance” and spoke of the potential impact on “the views from Old Sarum and on the whole historic landscape.”

A similar application submitted in 2015 was also refused, despite it being taken to appeal.

At the time, the appeal inspector concluded that harm, to both the airfield conservation area and the setting of Old Sarum scheduled monument could not be satisfactorily mitigated under any circumstances.

Grenville Hodge, director of Old Sarum Airfield, has said he is "extremely disappointed" in the council’s decision to refuse the latest application.

He stated: "Despite receiving support from Historic England and Natural England for the proposals, which provide a long-term viable solution for the airfield whilst safeguarding the WW1 heritage assets and provide much needed housing, the council has decided to refuse our application.

"As part of the application, we were prepared for the council to impose restrictions on our current unrestricted aircraft activity and noise at the airfield for the benefit of the thousands of residents who surround the airfield, however this decision will now significantly impact the lives of local people.

"Additionally, it seems contradictory that Wiltshire Council are using heritage concerns as grounds for refusal when the national heritage experts Historic England clearly support the proposals."