THE future of a workshop used to build Spitfire aircraft during the Second World War “lies with the landowner”, as it has been revealed the building it not listed.
Southampton City Council says, subject to the approval of an ongoing planning application for the former Ford factory site, it will be up to the owner if the shed is floored as it is not council-owned land.
Fears that Southampton's Spitfire factory could be demolished
According to council documents, it is still owned by Ford, despite the firm having pulled out of the site in 2013.
Last month, Leicestershire-based warehouse developers Tungsten Properties applied to build four industrial units on the site in Wide Lane, which would mean demolishing old buildings to erect new ones.
But when asked about the chances of saving the hanger, a council spokesperson said: “As the hangar is on private land, thus it is not owned by the council, efforts to preserve or move it would be at the discretion of the owner.”
The news that the structure is not listed has been labelled as “regrettable” by one civic leader.
Councillor Spiros Vassiliou, the authority’s culture and heritage chief said: “It would be very disappointing to lose buildings connected to such an important period in our history and linked to Southampton’s proud production of the iconic Spitfire.”
As reported, the structure on the site have been described by Solent Sky Museum director Alan Jones as “the most important buildings associated with the Spitfire in the world.”
A spokesperson for Southampton City Council added: “Should the current planning application for redevelopment of the site be approved, the land owner would be able to demolish it, but only once a full recording and photographic catalogue has been collated and deposited with the Archive/Historic Environment Record at Southampton City Council.”
The spokesperson confirmed that a historical assessment had been made by a council officer but “further evidence to help ascertain the significance of the building in heritage terms is being sought.”
The flight test shed, also known as a ‘hangar’, was built in 1934.
By the end of World War Two, over 8,000 Spitfires has been built and tested at the location by British manufacturer Supermarine.
The test sheds became part of the Ford Factory in the 1970s.
The Daily Echo has approached Ford, Historic England and Tungsten Properties for comment.
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