Plans to turn a historic wartime airfield into a housing estate have been approved by the Government, sparking fury among campaigners.
Developers have been given the green light to build up to 315 homes on Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Old Sarum is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country and has three Grade II* listed hangars which were built by German prisoners of war in 1917.
But one of them was left to fall into disrepair over several years and was eventually destroyed by Storm Isha last year.
The owners of the airfield, which played key roles in both World Wars, have been trying to get planning permission for housing since 2015.
Objectors accused them of deliberately letting the hangar deteriorate and cutting back flying from the airfield over the last six years.
Wiltshire Council rejected the plans last August but owners Old Sarum Airfield Ltd appealed and a lengthy planning inquiry was held in February.
Government planning inspector Nick Fagan has now granted outline planning permission, saying the benefits – which include the developers’ promise to restore the historic hangar – outweigh the harm.
One of Old Sarum’s Grade II* listed hangars was destroyed during Storm Isha last year, after years of being allowed to fall into disrepair
Old Sarum seen in the late 1920s. The airfield is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country
The decision has been slammed by both locals and councillors who said the ‘nation has been let down’ and the airfield ‘deserved better’.
The plans include 315 homes, 25 per cent of which will be affordable, commercial and leisure facilities including a ‘flying hub’ and new vehicle access, car parking and foot and cycle paths.
Ian McLennan, a local councillor, said the ‘nation has been let down’ by Historic England and the Planning Inspectorate.
He said: ‘Both have failed to protect this unique WWI airfield, a legacy of military flying and a Conservation Area.
‘A total failure by miserable organisations, who are supposed to protect.’
Becca Champion, a member of the Save Old Sarum action group, said: ‘I never thought I’d see the day Old Sarum Airfield was sacrificed for yet more soulless housing.
‘What we’ve lost isn’t just an airfield — it was one of the oldest operational airfields in the country, a site of huge historical importance dating back to World War I, and a rare piece of living heritage that connected us to our past.
‘This wasn’t just about preserving runways — it was about protecting a green space that supported local wildlife, offered open skies instead of overcrowded streets, and gave the community something genuinely unique.
‘Once places like this are gone, they’re gone forever.
‘Houses are now being crammed into this space, with little to no real infrastructure to support them.
‘It’s hard not to feel utterly let down. Old Sarum deserved better. We all did.’
Old Sarum is one of three surviving First World War grass strip airfields of its kind in Britain.
It was a training depot station during the war and then a school of army co-operation in the 1920s.
It played a crucial role again in the Second World War as a training base for army soldiers to learn to fly following large RAF losses in the Battle of Britain and was granted conservation status in 2007.
The site closed for leisure flying in 2019, with only a skydiving company allowed to use it since then.
The owners of the airfield, which played key roles in both World Wars, have been trying to get planning permission for housing since 2015. Above: The remains of the collapsed hangar
The collapsed hangar at Old Sarum, pictured soon after Storm Isha wreaked havoc last January
When it closed, managing director Grenville Hodge promised to spend £3m completely rebuilding the hangar, but only once planning permission was granted.
Hangar 3 was put on Historic England’s At Risk Register in 2020, but in January 2024 Storm Isha caused a partial collapse.
Campaigners then described it as ‘demolition through dereliction of duty’.
Mr Fagan’s decision lists 37 conditions, including one that the historic building must be repaired before all the homes are completed and occupied.
He said he did not accept there had been deliberate neglect of the hangar and added: ‘No advantage has been gained by the appellant if it has neglected Hangar 3, whether deliberately or not because much more rebuilding is now required than in 2019.’
Nick Baker, chairman of Laverstock and Ford Parish Council, said: ‘This is such a disappointing decision.
‘The inspector acknowledges the damage this will do to an important heritage asset and yet says it is justified by the reinstatement of a listed hanger which should never have been allowed to fall into this state of disrepair.
‘It will be essential that Wiltshire Council strictly enforces the conditions, particularly the one which states that work to the hanger must be completed before the second half of the homes are occupied.’
Councillor Tom Corbin said the developer had massively cut back flying from the airfield since 2018 and he did not believe they would restore the historic hangar.
He said: ‘The developer, who massively cut flying by removing all but skydiving-related flying, has at no time since showed any interest in restoring leisure flying out of Old Sarum.
‘I believe the developer’s sole aim from developing the airfield is to start a piecemeal land grab of the area.
‘Nothing of how the developer has acted in relation to the wilful neglect of Hangar 3 gives me any reason to believe that they will take any restorative action in the future.’
Old Sarum’s rich history
Old Sarum Airfield was commissioned in 1917 and is one of three surviving First World War grass strip airfields of its type in Britain.
The Belfast Truss hangar was built in 1917 by German Prisoners of War and Chinese labourers.
Hangar 3 was a double span hangar and was about 180ft wide and 120ft long.
Old Sarum airfield seen from above at the end of the First World War
Old Sarum Airfield was a Training Depot Station in the First World War and from 1920 it was the School of Army Co-Operation.
It also played a crucial role in the Second World War, serving as a training base for soldiers to learn to fly following the large losses of RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain.
Westland Lysanders, Tomahawk’s and Taylorcraft Austers were based at the airfield in the Second World War where the Air Observation Post squadrons were formed in May 1940.
The historic aerodrome was granted conservation status by English Heritage in 2007 because of its complete set of First World War buildings and hangars.