THERE is hope that the fire which devastated a Grade II hangar at Old Sarum Airfield could result in a review of the decision to approve hundreds of homes at the site.

Old Sarum Airfield Ltd had plans approved on appeal to build 315 homes, a flying hub and leisure facilities at the site earlier this month.

As part of the planning permission conditions, the applicant was asked to restore the Grade II listed World War One Hangar 3, which suffered damage by Storm Isha in January 2024.

However, as widely reported, the hangar was destroyed in a huge blaze last Thursday (April 23), with investigations ongoing.

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Laverstock and Ford Parish Council now say they hope the recent fire and subsequent destruction of the hangar will prompt a review of the appeal decision.

They added that they hope Old Sarum Airfield Ltd can fine a way to continue a “meaningful legacy” of the hangar.

“We recognise that in light of the recent public inquiry led by an independent planning inspector, there is much grief and frustration at this sudden loss of the Grade II listed Hanger 3 at Old Sarum airfield, an important part of our community’s heritage, which has stood for over a century and seen service in two world wars,” a spokesperson said.

“The heritage impact of the restoration of the hanger was a key part of the planning inspector’s reasoning in the recent appeal decision to allow large-scale house building on the site.

“We hope that this decision will now be reviewed in light of these events and that the custodians of this heritage can find a way to continue a meaningful legacy of this heritage, ensuring the businesses who have suffered from this fire are helped to rebuild and remain as part of the community.”

They said that the decision to approve the homes “does not reflect local and national concerns about the impact on the heritage of this unique World War One site.”

The site, which was designated a conservation area in 2007, is regarded as one of the best-preserved flying fields of that period and has heritage significance.

It is the only World War One airfield in the country that has retained its suite of hangars and technical buildings fronting onto an airfield relatively unaffected by later developments.

Some believe that the fire could actually have an upside with regards to restoring Hangar 3.

Historical advisor for film, TV and theatre productions Taff Gillingham spoke to aviation publication Flyer earlier this week, where they claimed that the fire has “cleared all the dead wood away” and that after the area is tidied up and the walls repaired, it will be “ripe for restoration”.

Old Sarum Airfield Ltd was approached for comment.