WILTSHIRE Council accused Old Sarum Airfield of “unreasonable conduct of the highest order” during the closing remarks of a planning inquiry last week.

The council’s lawyer, Hashi Mohamed, said the proposal to build more than 460 new homes on the airfield should be dismissed as it had “many fundamental flaws”, and “ought not to have ever been intimated”.

And he said: “The way in which the evidence was produced and then presented point towards unreasonable conduct of the highest order.”

The inquiry, which concluded on Wednesday, had been running since October, three years after planning permission was originally sought.

The operators are looking to build 462 homes around the airfield, which is a conservation area and includes listed buildings, and to create what they called a ‘flying hub’ complete with a heritage centre, visitor centre, restaurant and new control tower.

During the closing remarks on behalf of the airfield’s operators, Mr John Steel QC said the benefits of the development were wide ranging and extensive, “including many public planning benefits of significant weight.”

As well as the building of 462 homes “in an area where housing is without doubt in demand and needed”, this also included the restoration of a Grade 2 hangar, and the preservation and enhancement of the Old Sarum Airfield Conservation Area.

John Steel QC added: “The appeal should be allowed and planning permission should be granted.

“If planning permission is refused, the consequence is not merely a lost opportunity but a significant and indeed serious loss to the residents and public.”

The appellant also said the case of the council “falls apart”, because “their evidence is without weight on so many matters”.

The presiding government inspector, Frances Mahoney, summarised the main issues at the opening of the inquiry to include: “Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of Old Sarum Conservation Area, the Sarum Ancient Monument and Conservation Area, whether the proposal would adversely impact on the village of Ford, and whether the proposal would represent a hindrance to the free flow of traffic on the existing highway network”.

To read the closing remarks by Wiltshire Council and the Appellant in full, go to https://bit.ly/2T5L0Ek