Council seeking legal advice after fire rips through Grade II-listed site with permission for hundreds of homes

Lucy Townsend, chief executive of Wiltshire Council, said: “We’re very saddened to see the damage to the Grade II-listed World War I 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.” 

In an update today (23 April 2025), Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: “We are receiving a lot of queries about the cause of the fire.

“This is a complex investigation and we are continuing to work with Wiltshire Police to establish what caused this fire. We will of course update the community as soon as we are able.”

Securing permission for the site has been part of a long-running dispute. The airfield was built in 1917 and is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country.

Wiltshire Council previously refused multiple planning applications to develop the site, most recently due to concerns about the impact on highways and nearby heritage sites, including an iron-age fort.

However, the developer appealed and the Planning Inspectorate gave the go-ahead for up to 315 homes to be built to the north and south of the airstrip, 25% of which will be affordable.

The site sits within a scheduled monument, which means the government recognises it as a nationally important archaeological site.

It includes three Grade II-listed hangars and two conservation areas. The proposals include the restoration of Hangar 3, a World War I hangar that collapsed during a storm in 2024. This hangar was then destroyed during the fire.

A spokesperson from the Save Old Sarum campaign group, which has been campaigning to prevent development on the airfield land, told the BBC that it was “deeply saddened by the fire at Hangar 3”.

GoSkydive, a skydive group that is based at the airfield, said: “Our hearts are particularly heavy for our friends at Hangar 3 cafe, who have lost their entire premises.

“They have been more than just neighbours – they’ve been an essential part of the GoSkydive experience, serving countless customers and staff over the years.

“The loss of Hangar 3 itself is particularly emotional for us. This magnificent structure has been our backdrop since GoSkydive’s inception, representing not just Old Sarum’s heritage but Britain’s proud aviation history.”