Old Sarum Airfield plans refused by Wiltshire Council

Wiltshire Council put a pin in the latest set of plans for the airfield during a Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 14.

Members unanimously voted to refuse the planning application, which was for  approximately 315 homes, with a "mixture of employment, commercial/leisure and aviation uses", including a control tower, heritage centre, visitor centre, café/restaurant, parachute centre, aviation archives and aircraft hangars.

They were read parts of a report from an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government who opposed the plans.

The inspector stated that the proposed development would represent an erosion of the open character and appearance of the Airfield Conservation Area, the setting of the listed hangars and that of the Old Sarum".

A previous application submitted in 2015 - and the subsequent appeal in 2018/19 -  were both refused. 

Grenville Hodge, director of Old Sarum Airfield, is "extremely disappointed" that his application was refused.

Grenville Hodge. (Image: Contributed)

He said: "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."

Claims of 'unresponsive and obstructive' council

Mr Hodge said his team has worked "tirelessly" over the past two years to bring forward the "highest quality" proposals possible to secure the airfield's future as an active flying hub and provide new housing.

"We have engaged with Wiltshire Council in good faith but have found the local authority to be unresponsive and obstructive over many issues," added Mr Hodge.

"It is no wonder that Wiltshire Council rank 301 out of 318 for planning performance in the recent Oflog league tables, putting them in the lowest 5% of local authorities in England. We will now study the refusal and look at our options.”

To view the planning officer's report or the plans in full, go to cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=15530.