A DECISION on plans to demolish a building previously used to build Spitfires is set to be made today.

At 4pm, members of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel will be discussing an application to demolish the ‘Spitfire Sheds’ at Wide Lane, Swaythling.

The so-called ‘Flight Shed’ could be knocked down to make way for new industrial units which are expected to create up to 257 full-time jobs under plans by Carbide Properties Limited.

But an online petition has been set up by Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust to save the building which has now received 49,125 signatures.

Having been used during World War 2, the building was later used as part of the Ford factories.

The car building firm pulled out of the site in 2013 but according to council documents, Ford is still the landowner of the site.

Those campaigning for the building’s preservation say it is important that the stories of the people who worked to build the historic plans are remembered, but planners claim the building has been ‘heavily modified’.

This comes as Historic England said the building had been “too altered to satisfy the listing criteria”.

Council officers have recommended that planning committee members delegate the decision to the Head of Planning and Economic Development to grant planning permission.

Previously, Swaythling councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Heritage, Spiros Vassiliou said: “It is regrettable that the Spitfire Sheds cannot be saved due to there being no protected status.

“If planning permission is however granted we as a Council have put an approval condition that requires archaeological structural recording of the site to ensure that the recording of this significant structure takes place prior to the development.”

But writing on behalf of Trustees of Solent Sky Museum and the Friends of Solent Sky Museum, Alan Jones, Museum Director added: “The Flight Test Sheds are the most important buildings associated with the Spitfire in the World and if Southampton City Council allow these buildings to be demolished it will be a stain on the character of the city.”

Now campaigners are urging councillors to ‘at least delays the application allowing time for a full properly conducted assessment of the building’ as they say it is not clear which parts are from the original site and which parts have been changed.