Former airfield set for drone site expansion

A new innovation park could bolster drone production in a region and create hundreds of jobs.

The Spitfire Innovation Park could be built on land by High Post Business Park near Salisbury in Wiltshire, a 11.29 hectares (27.90 acres) site which previously served as an RAF grass airfield.

Plans have been lodged by Callen‑Lenz Associates Limited, which specialises in the development of drones, and Chemring Countermeasures Limited, which works to protect air and naval forces from missile threats.

Documents submitted to Wiltshire Council state the building is "anticipated to accommodate 250 staff members" which could grow "to around 500 employees as the company expands within the next five years."

Wiltshire is fast becoming a hub for drone facilities, with seven sites proposed or in existence already in Swindon.

Due to the nature of Callen-Lenz's work, "security is vitally important" at the proposed site, with a pavilion planned for security staff.

Planning documents submitted to Wiltshire Council add: "Whilst Callen-Lenz's proposed consolidation and expansion could take place elsewhere, the company wishes to stay within Wiltshire.

"This will allow it to retain its highly-skilled workforce, as well as its carefully curated supply chain, and the existing links to defence infrastructure within the area."

If Wiltshire Council grant permission for the project, a new roundabout would be built by the A345 to provide new access to both businesses.

The Spitfire Innovation Park name comes from Salisbury's important role during World War Two.

More than 2,000 Spitfire fighter planes were secretly built in the Wiltshire city after production facilities in Southampton were destroyed by German forces.

More than 10% of the total numbers of Spitfires ever built were created in Salisbury. Young women, elderly men and engineers were all part of the top-secret operation.

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