AIRFIELD DECISION: "I'll get my late Father, who is scattered up there, to do a haunting"

Today, permission to build up to 315 homes and commercial and leisure facilities was granted at Old Sarum Airfield. And not everyone is happy.

“Progress marches on cos money talks”.  That’s one of the comments made in response to the decision to allow property development on the Old Sarum airfield site.

Other comments on the Salisbury Journal website include “Is nothing sacred in this world?! A terrible decision!” with one user adding, “I might pop up to the airfield and try to convince my late Father, who is scattered up there, to do a haunting. That's if all his ashes have stopped spinning yet.” 

Today, Old Sarum Airfield Ltd was given the green light to build up to 315 homes and commercial and leisure facilities at the site. The airfield operator's planning application for the site was rejected in August in last year. The announcement was made by Government inspector Nick Fagan at The Red Lion on Milford Street today.

The Save Old Sarum campaign group posted online that it’s “a total shame, and disregard for the airfield, the heritage and Conservation Area”.

The campaign group aimed to 'save a historic airfield which graces the local landscape and has served the country well in times of war and peace since 1917'.

Old Sarum is one of only three former World War One airfields in the UK to retain its original grass strip and hangar buildings.

Members of Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee voted unanimously against the proposals for the airfield on 14 August 2024. Old Sarum Airfield Ltd then lodged its appeal in October.

Today, that appeal was granted. 

Access to the developed airfield was a particular concern.  Over 150 of the proposed dwellings will need be accessed from Ford Road, which Wiltshire Council's legal representative argued is “nowhere near adequate” for the natural increase in number of vehicles. The Council's barrister Hashi Mohamed also accused the airfield operators of showing a “lack of respect” for Hangar 3, a Grade II* listed building. With the cost of restoring Hangar 3 is estimated to be in excess of £3,000,000.

But the airfield's lawyer said traffic flows on Ford Road are “well below capacity” and said it can handle more vehicle movements with “no material impact upon safety”.

Nick Fagan - the government planning inspector who announced his decision on the scheme today, said, "Like Heritage England, I agree that the overall level of harm is towards the mid-range of less than substantial harm.”

He concluded by additionally agreeing with Heritage England saying, “[The benefits] outweigh such harm."