Guyatts of Salisbury submits plans for temporary storage units

It comes as Guyatts, in Old Sarum Business Park, has submitted a planning application for the retention of temporary storage containers on site.  

The site relates to one of the Grade II listed former aircraft hangars - the containers are already on site, and the application seeks to "regularise the current situation". 

The Guyatts family bought the Grade II listed building, named Distlock House, in 2020, just before the first lockdown.  

The family (pictured) say that the income created by the additional storage space within the containers is crucial to the viability of the business occupying the unit and their ability to invest in the necessary repairs and maintenance of the Grade II* listed building.

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Kristian Guyatt, Lynda Guyatt, Roy Guyatt and Jessie Guyatt (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

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Grenville Hodge, the managing director of Old Sarum Airfield, has opposed the plans, writing that any development that affects the setting of the airfield "must be judged to cause significant harm and therefore be prohibited unless providing overriding substantial public benefit".

Mr Hodge added: "The application offers no such public benefit and therefore must be refused as it is in breach of this policy which has been applied in respect of several planning applications affecting the site. Anything other is likely to result in a subsequent challenge."

Speaking to the Journal, the Guyatts family maintained that the temporary units do not breach any of the terms of their tenancy, and have been painted to ensure they blend in with the surroundings. 

They said: "There have been storage containers here for years and years and no has ever complained.

"They bring a lot of positives for us as a business, and it is really helping us". 

They need all the help they can get at the moment, after seeing a massive rise in their mortgage payments for Distloc House. 

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Guyatts of Salisbury (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

The family are not planning on staying in Old Sarum forever, which is why the planning application states it would be reviewed after three years. 

There have also been dozens of comments in support of the business over the last two days. 

Labelcraft UK said: "As one of the neighbouring businesses on the estate we fully support what Guyatts are trying to achieve, which is a sustainable business and the upkeep of the buildings and the surrounding area. Every effort has been made to blend in with the keeping of the Hangar, which we believe has been achieved successfully.

"There are a number of other containers & temporary structures on & around the Airfield with no objections. After seeing the building empty for a long period of time it was nice to see a local family business take it with the intentions of maintaining it and not letting it fall into disrepair."

To view the planning application, click here.