A factory building in Woodley that was used to make aircraft during the Battle of Britain during the Second World War could still be demolished and replaced with five modern industrial units.
The Adwest building was formerly part of the Miles Aircraft factory and is based on Headley Road East, Woodley.
The site was used to build nearly 6,000 aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s, and during the Second World War was used in the construction of training aircraft ahead of the Battle of Britain.
Later, it became the base for making Biro pens. Most recently, Thermal Management Solutions (TMS), used the space to produce thermostats for cars. It has since switched production to Europe.
A petition calling for the building to be retained received 4,866 signatures on Change.org.
Developers HE2 Reading 1 GP had applied to demolish the building and replace it five modern industrial units, this was refused by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee.
Ultimately, the planning committee refused the development because the demolition of the buildings on the site would remove ‘any physical link to their former aeronautical use’.
Therefore, it was judged that the benefit of the modern industrial units would not outweigh the harm caused by losing the existing buildings.
HE2 Reading 1 GP has appealed to the government’s planning inspectorate.
Woodley Town Council leader Cllr Keith Baker has urged residents to call for the appeal to be dismissed.
He said: “It is the last remaining piece of architecture relating to the airfield from World War Two.
“One of the reasons why it was refused was its historical basis.”
Form Design Group, planning agents for the developers, argued the new units would provide substantial benefits, including the more efficient use of the site, removal of outdated commercial buildings with limited scope for re-occupation and increased employment benefits.
The agents argued the Adwest building and others on the site have ‘low significance’ as heritage assets.
The plan for the demolition and new buildings is reference 213106 on Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
In order to comment on the appeal, you will need to use reference APP/X0360/W/22/3306963 on the government planning inspectorate website to comment, or by post to Sara Burke, The Planning Inspectorate, Room , Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN.
The deadline for representations is Monday, March 20.
