A blaze that tore through a Grade II-listed First World War aircraft hangar at Old Sarum airfield – just days after a controversial housing development was greenlit – has reignited concerns over the fragility of Britain’s heritage protection laws.
Hangar 3, a WW1 airstrip and base, had been central to a recent planning permission application, with the council only approving the 315-home development on condition that the hangar be conserved.
Now, that hangar is gone, further questions have been raised around the lack of protections for heritage buildings that were supposed to be protected by the “Crooked House Law” – so why will this new law not apply?
Why the Crooked House law won’t apply
The destruction of Hangar 3 has sparked immediate comparisons to the 2023 demolition of the Crooked House pub in Staffordshire, which led to a national outcry and the government’s promise to introduce tougher legislation to protect heritage buildings.
But despite ministers announcing the so-called “Crooked House Law” last year – aimed at preventing historic structures from being demolished by neglect or fire and requiring like-for-like reconstruction – the law has still yet to come into force, meaning it will not apply in this instance.
Salisbury City Council’s Planning Committee expressed strong criticism following the collapse of Hangar 3 during Storm Isha: “The collapse of Hangar 3 at Old Sarum Airfield is a disaster long predicted by those who have been campaigning to save this Grade II listed wartime survivor. Our heritage protection systems have failed abjectly in their duty to ensure its preservation despite years of pleading by aviation enthusiasts such as the group SOS – Save Old Sarum.”
Historic England has been actively involved in efforts to preserve the hangar and expressed concern over its deteriorating condition: “We remain disappointed with the deteriorating condition of the Grade II listed Hangar at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, and we’re concerned to hear there has been a further collapse.”
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An unprotected legacy
The Old Sarum airfield, one of the oldest operational airfields in the UK, has long been recognised for its military and architectural importance.
Planning permission has been granted for 315 new homes at the historic Old Sarum Airfield near Salisbury, however, a key condition of the full was the full restoration of the derelict Hangar 3 before 160 of the homes could be occupied.
Hangar 3 was part of a set of historic buildings that earned the site conservation status from English Heritage in 2007.
It had fallen into disrepair in recent years, suffering a partial collapse during Storm Isha in January, prompting campaigners, such as SOS, to accuse the site’s owners of “demolition through dereliction of duty.”
The planning inspector overseeing the housing inquiry in February rejected the notion that the hangar had been deliberately neglected.
Now, with the structure reduced to ash, it is unclear what recourse remains. Campaigners are calling for a judicial review of the planning approval, arguing that the basis of the consent – conservation of the hangar – is no longer viable.
No “Crooked House Law”… yet
The Crooked House legislation, formally titled the Historic Buildings (Reinstatement and Protection) Bill, is still in its consultation phase and not expected to be enacted until late 2025.
Until then, there are no legal obligations for owners or developers to rebuild a heritage asset lost in a fire – even under suspicious circumstances.
“The system has gaping holes,” said aviation historian Andy Saunders. “Hangar 3 was one of a handful of its kind left in the country. Without enforceable protections, we are losing our national history one fire at a time.”
The High Court has recently announced that the Planning Enforcement Public Inquiry into the Crooked House will be put on hold until after the ongoing criminal investigation into the fire is concluded. South Staffordshire Council expressed disappointment at the delay.
Investigation underway
Police have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the blaze and are treating it as suspicious. Gaps in the fencing around the disused hangar had been noted in photos taken prior to the fire, raising concerns about site security.
No casualties were reported, but the fire also consumed a nearby café and business unit. Firefighters from five stations battled the blaze late into the evening.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue has warned residents to keep windows closed due to potential exposure to hazardous materials, and Wiltshire Police are appealing for witnesses.
Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, which owns the site, expressed “devastation” at the loss of the hangar. Director Grenville Hodge insisted the company had intended to begin restoration work immediately following the successful appeal.
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