Arrest made after hearth destroyed historical World War One hangar days after builders have been granted permission to construct new properties… at the situation they repair it

An arrest has been made after a devastating hearth destroyed a Grade II-listed plane hangar simply days after permission was once given to construct loads of houses at the website.

The historical construction that was once constructed by way of First World War German prisoners of conflict was once at the verge of being restored following years of forget. 

A central authority making plans inspector controversially licensed plans for greater than 300 properties to be constructed on the Old Sarum airfield close to Salisbury however handiest on situation Hangar 3 be conserved. 

However, there may be now not anything left of the plane hangar that was once on Historic England’s At Risk Register after a blaze ripped throughout the website on April 17.

Police and hearth investigators introduced a probe into the hearth with fears it was once began intentionally.

Although the derelict construction were fenced off, pictures taken ultimate week display gaps in barriers for any person to get right of entry to the website.

Wiltshire Police has since showed to MailOnline that an individual has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been launched on bail whilst their investigations proceed,

The airfield is operated by way of Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, which won making plans permission to construct 315 properties and industrial and recreational amenities at the website at the start April after a drawn-out making plans inquiry, which started in February.

However, following the blaze, ultimate week Wiltshire Council introduced a criminal problem towards the Planning Inspectorate’s determination to permit an enchantment and grant making plans permission for residential construction at Old Sarum Airfield. 

People staring at the hearth burning throughout the hangar and cafe at Old Sarum airfield

Aerial pictures lately display there may be now not anything left of the plane hangar

The state of the hangar shaped a key a part of the talk on the inquiry, along side the proposed construction’s affect on heritage belongings. 

When the federal government’s Planning Inspectorate revealed its determination to grant making plans consent on April 9, it stated a situation of the approval was once that handiest 160 of the dwellings may well be occupied till maintenance have been made to Hangar 3.

The define utility was once in the beginning refused by way of the Wiltshire Council Strategic Planning Committee in August 2024 however following an enchantment an impartial Planning granted making plans permission.

Councillor Adrian Foster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management and Housing, stated: ‘The foundation on which the verdict was once made to permit the enchantment has altered following the devastating hearth to the indexed plane hangar at Old Sarum Airfield.

‘Following criminal recommendation, in gentle of the bizarre cases surrounding this example, we now have taken the verdict to release a criminal problem towards the Planning Inspector’s determination.

‘We have implemented to the courtroom to problem the verdict and we now wait to listen to whether or not it is going to continue to listening to.’

A spokesperson for the Save Old Sarum motion workforce, which were campaigning to forestall the plans for housing and for the recovery of Hangar 3, stated: ‘Great information that Wiltshire Council has introduced a criminal problem to the Planning Inspector’s ruling over 300+ homes implemented to be constructed at the airfield website. 

‘This distinctive Conservation Area & heritage website might be irreversibly broken if the homes cross forward’

Shocking photos display orange flames underneath plumes of black smoke as the hearth ripped throughout the Old Sarum Airfield hangar

The hearth carrier stated Hangar 3 had in part collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjoining eating place and café

Firefighters from Amesbury, Salisbury, Ludgershall, Andover and Ringwood labored in combination to take on the blaze

One of Old Sarum’s Grade II indexed hangars was once destroyed right through Storm Isha ultimate 12 months, after years of being allowed to fall into disrepair

Old Sarum noticed within the overdue 1920s. The airfield is likely one of the oldest operational airfields within the nation

Old Sarum’s wealthy historical past 

Old Sarum Airfield was once commissioned in 1917 and is one in all 3 surviving First World War grass strip airfields of its sort in Britain.

The Belfast Truss hangar was once in-built 1917 by way of German Prisoners of War and Chinese labourers.

Hangar 3 was once a double span hangar and was once about 180feet huge and 120feet lengthy.

Old Sarum airfield noticed from above on the finish of the First World War

Old Sarum Airfield was once a Training Depot Station within the First World War and from 1920 it was once the School of Army Co-Operation.

It additionally performed a an important function within the Second World War, serving as a coaching base for infantrymen to learn how to fly following the huge losses of RAF pilots within the Battle of Britain.

Westland Lysanders, Tomahawk’s and Taylorcraft Austers have been primarily based on the airfield within the Second World War the place the Air Observation Post squadrons have been shaped in May 1940.

The historical aerodrome was once granted conservation standing by way of English Heritage in 2007 on account of its whole set of First World War structures and hangars.

Following the blaze, the director of the airfield stated he was once ‘devastated’ by way of the hearth and hopes he hasn’t ‘misplaced’ the construction.

Grenville Hodge, the director of Old Sarum airfield, stated: ‘We’re completely devastated. We simply gained the making plans enchantment and the very first thing we have been going to do was once restore the hangar. It’s simply incredible. Hopefully, we’ve not misplaced it.’

Old Sarum is likely one of the oldest operational airfields within the nation and has 3 Grade II indexed hangars that have been in-built 1917. 

During the Second World War it was once a coaching base for military infantrymen to learn how to fly following huge RAF losses within the Battle of Britain.

Aviation historian Andy Saunders stated: ‘The airfield is the most important a part of Britain’s aviation heritage and its use dates again to the First World War with a novel workforce of unique structures of the length.

‘Unfortunately, a minimum of one of the vital wood trussed hangars was once allowed to fall into disrepair lately.’

The Belfast Truss Hangar 3 was once placed on Historic England’s At Risk Register in 2020, however in January 2024 Storm Isha led to a partial cave in.

At the time campaigners described it as ‘demolition thru dereliction of accountability’.

But in granting the housing scheme permission, making plans inspector Nick Fagen stated he didn’t settle for there were planned forget of the hangar by way of the house owners.

He added that no merit were won by way of them in neglecting Hangar 3 as a lot more rebuilding paintings is now required than ahead of it fell right into a state of disrepair. 

The hearth carrier stated Hangar 3 had in part collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjoining eating place and café.

Paul McAuliffe, 54, and spouse Svonne, 52, have been sat outdoor the website at round 6.30pm when the hearth began.

Mrs McAuliffe stated: ‘One folks appeared over and spotted gray smoke popping out of the hangar.

‘He (Paul) bumped into the kitchen and instructed them the hangar was once on hearth. We’ve all needed to stand and watch the hangar.

‘The roof collapsed, after which the doorways got here down, and taken the brick partitions down with it. It’s completely gutting.’

Eloise Moore and her sister have been alerted to the hearth after their oldsters noticed the smoke.

‘I’m so devastated in regards to the contemporary blaze that came about on the hangar previous lately’, she stated.

‘This was once my first time experiencing a hearth in this scale, and as a young person, it is going to without a doubt stick with me for a very long time.

‘We have been completely flabbergasted and was once desperate to stay up-to-the-minute with each and every information tale and adopted the reside discovered for your web page.

‘I am hoping the hearth will also be resolved and I’ve lots of gratitude against the police and hearth departments.’

Wiltshire Police has since showed to MailOnline that an individual has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been launched on bail whilst their investigations proceed 

In a observation launched after the blaze, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service warned native citizens: ‘Due to the potential of unknown chemical substances, please keep inside of and stay your home windows closed to keep away from the smoke.’ 

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police on the time stated: ‘We are interesting for witnesses following a big hearth at Old Sarum airfield.

‘The hearth broke out simply after 6pm in in part derelict wartime hangars. The two hangars, in addition to the Hangar 3 cafe have been destroyed, and the construction utilized by some other trade was once badly broken.

‘An investigation is now underway into the reason for the hearth and we wish to talk to any person who was once within the house in a while ahead of the hearth began.

‘If you’ll be able to assist with our inquiries, please touch us on 101 quoting log quantity 262 of the day past’s date (17/04). You too can touch Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

‘We would additionally ask that contributors of the general public stay their distance from the affected house whilst police and hearth proceed with the investigation.’