3 February 2021
The planning appeal for permission to build six ‘hangar homes’ at Solent Airport has been turned down.
The planning inspector, Adrian Hunter, appointed by the Secretary of State, refused the appeal on three grounds: provision of employment, airfield operations and living conditions of future residents.
The plan for six houses with integral hangar, plus a heritage hangar/centre, had been put forward by Peter Day, who runs a company called Hangar Homes.
Peter said, “None of the [inspector’s] reasons were valid. No alternative employment-generating scheme has been put forward for the site, so the employment from six mixed-use hangars is better than nothing.
“Even so, the employment density of each unit exceeds that of other businesses on the airfield.”
What the proposed hangar homes at Solent would look like. Image: Hangar Homes
On airfield operations, the CAA Aerodrome Inspector had said, “Regarding your question on the wider principle of mixed-use hangar developments on aerodromes, we see no reason why it should prejudice the future of this or any other aerodrome, provided that it is compliant with licensing requirements and that operating procedures have been agreed.”
Peter: “The scheme does comply with CAP 168, and operating procedures would be simple: all pre-flight checks are done in the hangar before calling the tower and pushing the aircraft out to start the engine and access the taxiway.
“The reality is that there is more than enough room within the ‘unobstructed strip’ to accommodate both the largest aircraft actually using the taxiway and an aircraft in front of each hangar, so there would be no obstruction.”
Peter also refuted the planning inspector’s opinion that there was insufficient ‘light and outlook’ from the houses, affecting living conditions of future residents.
“The light to two of the bedrooms is fine, but they overlook the adjacent unit so the aspect is not as good as the two main bedrooms which have balconies overlooking the Solent to the west,” said Peter.
“I intend to change that with a new floor plan that provides a larger living area with three bedrooms, only one of which overlooks the adjacent unit which I cannot see as being a problem. As for the high-level windows, they are on the other side of the building and prevent overlooking, as well as providing additional light to the living area and master bedroom, both of which have plenty of light from their respective balconies.”
Details aside, there’s the bigger point about the attitude of local and central authorities to ideas such as hangar homes and airparks.
“This is not just about mixed-use hangars on Daedalus, but whether mixed-use hangars and hangar homes will ever be adopted at a GA airfield in the UK,” said Peter.
“If you want to see that in the future, then please email Grant Shapps on [email protected] and ask him to inject some fairness and commonsense into this situation.”
