A FIRE that tore through a historic First World War airfield in Salisbury could have wider implications on plans to build hundreds of homes at the site.

Smoke could be seen billowing out of Hangar 3 at Old Sarum Airfield on the evening of April 17 as a huge blaze ripped through the building.

Images that surfaced of the blaze showed the sheer destruction caused, as the fire laid waste to Hangar 3 – previously one of the best-preserved flying fields of the First World War period – and the nearby Hangar 3 Old Sarum café and operation buildings for Go Sky Dive.

The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed, and an investigation is ongoing.

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The airfield itself is operated by Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, who had plans approved by a government-appointed planning inspector just nine days prior to the fire to build 315 homes a flying hub and leisure facilities.

The plans faced opposition from campaigners, including the group Save Old Sarum, who said the inspector did not take into account the historical significance of the site, which lies within the setting of a Scheduled Monument, which means it is recognised as a nationally important archaeological site by the government.

What some of the hangar-inspired apartments could look like at the Old Sarum Airfield site Picture: Feilden + Mawson/Wiltshire Council

As part of the planning permission conditions, the applicant was asked to restore the Grade II listed Hangar 3, which suffered damage by Storm Isha in January 2024 and had since been propped up by shipping containers.

But as the hangar has now been extensively damaged, questions have been raised on what this could mean for the plans.

Wiltshire Council – which previously refused multiple planning applications to develop the site – said it will now consider its options.

Lucy Townsend, chief executive at Wiltshire Council, said: “We’re very saddened to see the damage to the Grade II listed World War One aircraft hangar at Old Sarum and we will support our partners at Wiltshire Police and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service with the ongoing investigation in any way we can.

“We are seeking legal advice regarding any implications for the planning permission.”

Picture: Roger Leggard/FB

A spokesperson for the Planning Inspectorate said that it is not in a position to comment on the possibility of the plans being revisited, as the appeal decision is still within the six-week window that could see it challenged in the High Court.

Laverstock and Ford Parish Council has made it clear that it believes the destruction caused by the fire should prompt a review of the appeal decision.

“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.”

The café suffered serious damage in the blaze Picture: Hangar 3 Old Sarum café

The affected businesses have been picking up the pieces since the horror fire.

A crowdfunder organised by Salisbury Bike Night, which holds events at the café, was launched to help the business get back on its feet, with £1,890 raised to create a temporary kitchen opposite Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.

Go Sky Dive has also been welcoming people back to the skies.

Fire could help – not hinder – Hangar 3 restoration, historian claims

While the Salisbury community has been left reeling following the destruction, there have been suggestions that the fire could actually help the future of Hangar 3.

Military historian Taff Gillingham says that as much of the original Hangar 3 building was already “long past saving”, the fire would allow Old Sarum Airfield Ltd to make the restoration “cheaper and easier”.

“The loss of any original Great War structure is incredibly sad, of course, but, as Save Old Sarum have pointed out before, most of the roof and original Belfast trusses had already collapsed, and the remaining timber structures were in very poor condition.

“Much of the original Hangar 3 building was already long past saving.

“The restoration work already committed to by the owners, as a planning condition, would have seen all the surviving original timber replaced, and only the brickwork remaining of the actual Great War structure.

“All the fire has done is clear the piles of rotten wood left by the previous roof collapses and saved the owners the trouble of removing the remaining rotten timber structures – all things that needed to be done before making a start on the restoration.

“The brickwork can now be properly examined and repaired, and the woodwork replaced, exactly as was previously done with an identical hanger at Hooton Park in Cheshire after a similar disastrous collapse.

“The wartime plans still exist, and the team at Hooton Park have the recent experience and skills to restore those Belfast trusses and replace the roof.”

He says that as the building is Grade II listed, that listing does not cease just because part of the original building has burnt down.

Old Sarum Airfield Ltd was contacted for comment.

Police are still appealing for anyone with footage of the fire to send it via email to 70382@wiltshire.police.uk