PLANS to demolish a building that was used to test wartime Spitfires have been given the go-ahead.

At a meeting of the Planning and Rights of Way Panel at Southampton City Council on Tuesday, members voted in favour of plans to knock down the "Spitfire Sheds" just off of Wide Lane, Swaythling to make room for industrial units.

Submitted by Carbide Properties Limited, the plans are set to see up to 257 jobs created but proved controversial when a petition was set up by the Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust, arguing that the building should be preserved.

Despite over 50,000 having signed the petition to save the building, which also became part of the Ford factories after the war, councillors approved the plans.

Daily Echo: Flight test sheds in Swaythling. Flight test sheds in Swaythling.

It was however agreed that a record of the building is created prior to demolition, so future generations can see what happened there.

But the Spitfire Makers Charitable Trust was "disappointed" with the decision and posting on Facebook following the meeting, the Trust said: "'Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end... But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning...'

"We took our case to the Planning Panel and made them very aware that they were voting on flawed 'evidence' but in the end they had to approve, or not, based on the application and the reports they had received and sadly the vote went against us."

Chair of the Trust, Alan Matlock, added that his feeling after the meeting was one of "disappointment and surprise" but said: "Our cause is greater and wider than the one building. There are over 30 sites in the city that we also want to see commemorated."

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Labour and Swaythling ward Cllr Lorna Fielker said: “It is positive to see the empty site being redeveloped and I welcome the employment opportunities this brings.

"However, it is disappointing that in doing this we lose the last physical link with the Spitfire in Southampton. Given the high levels of historic interest it would have preferable to preserve the Shed within the plans.

"My suggestion that Heritage Boards detailing the history of the Flight Shed are placed in Stoneham Cemetery Road has been included in the permission, this will at least preserve the memory of the important work which took place there for future generations. “

Another Swaythling cllr and cabinet member for communities, culture and heritage, Spiros Vassiliou added: "It is regrettable that the Spitfire sheds could not be saved, however I am glad to see that the mitigation measures I suggested of making a full photographic and information archive of the site has been included as part of this decision before demolition can take place.

"I am also pleased to hear that a plaque will be placed in future at the new development highlighting the significance of the area.

"Looking forward however, I am happy that this site will be used to create more jobs in Swaythling.

"We are as a Council are also fully supporting the new Spitfire Memorial Project which will be an iconic and fitting tribute to the Spitfire and Southampton’s proud historical link with this aircraft."