Hearing begins on controversial plan for 315 homes and amenities after council rejection. Focus on heritage and feasibility.
The airfield owners, Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, wanted to build. Wiltshire Council said no in August 2023. They rejected it. Now, the company appealed the decision in October. Grenville Hodge leads the company; Nick Fagan is watching over the appeal.
This is the second time they’ve appealed housing plans. A similar, bigger plan failed before in 2015. The council refused it then. Courts agreed with the council.
The council and airfield gave their arguments on day one. Lawyers spoke for them at the hearing. Hashi Mohamed spoke for Wiltshire. He accused the airfield of neglecting Hangar 3, which Storm Isha damaged in January 2024.
Mohamed stated the Hangar 3 collapse was strange. He said it showed disrespect for the heritage site. Photos from 2019 showed the hangar in good shape. Historic England marked Hangar 3 as “very bad” in 2020. They noted a long period of neglect.
The airfield got permission for repairs in March 2024. The repair project costs £3.3 million. This permission wasn’t tied to the housing plan’s outcome.
Councillor Lainey Barker thinks Hangar 3 is a bargaining tool. Barker questioned Hodge’s promise to restore it. She sits on the Laverstock & Ford Parish Council.
Christopher Young represents the airfield. He said delays hurt the site. The site’s condition worsened amid legal arguments. He stated the plan invests in the council’s requests.
The airfield believes their plan is best. They think it secures Old Sarum Airfield’s future; the plan supports and safeguards the site. It helps the listed hangar and area.
The inquiry will continue until February 28. Fagan expects to cover three main topics: these are heritage, highways, and the plan’s feasibility.