A PETITION has been launched to save the Woodley headquarters of Miles Aircraft from demolition.
The art deco building on Headley Road East is one of the last remaining parts of the factory on the former Reading Aerodrome site.
It is now subject to a planning application to erect five commercial buildings for light industrial work and storage, as well as offices, car parking and a new access.
Karen Long, who started the campaign online on change.org on Saturday, January 29, alleged that the proposed developer submitted a “late and inaccurate built heritage statement” in her petition details.
“The council’s public consultation last year generated more comments objecting to the loss of non-designated heritage assets, such as the Mile Aircraft building, than about any other related issues,” she said.
“Too many of Britain’s former aircraft factories have already been lost to modern development when they could have been saved through intelligent conservation and re-purposing.”
Cllr Shirley Boyt supported the petition, and said that there are better ways to use the buildings to benefit Woodley residents.
“Viscount Way, which runs behind Headley Road East, is already blighted by HGV traffic, and the storage centres proposed for the site will mean more large lorries in the area,” she explained.
“Work certainly needs doing to modernise the buildings, but Woodley needs infrastructure to support new homes being built, such as a new primary school, doctors surgery and dentist, not more industrial units.
“Even keeping the building and turning it into a retail park with small business units would be better than this proposal, because it would create more employment.”
Responding to the campaign, Cllr Wayne Smith, executive member for planning and enforcement on the borough council, stressed that the site is not owned by the borough council, and neither is it the applicant.
“This planning application is being assessed in accordance with our usual procedures,” he said.
“We cannot comment on the quality of any documents submitted as part of a live application.
“We’re awaiting a decision by Historic England on whether or not to list the building before determining the application and, if officers are minded to recommend approval, it will be put before our planning committee and residents will have the chance to express their views at this point.
“We can assure residents that the impact on the heritage asset, whether designated or non-designated, will be fully considered in making the final decision, as will any representations they may wish to make.”
Wokingham Today first covered the story of the fight to save the Miles Aircraft building in October last year.
After interest in the campaign, an application for listing was made to Historic England. This is currently being assessed, and a decision on the planning application is on hold pending Historic England’s findings.
The building on the aerodrome was designed by architect Guy Morgan and opened on January 27, 1939, by air minister Sir Kingsley Wood.
The factory built more than 6,000 aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. It also made the earliest Biro ballpoint pens.
For details of the planning application, visit: wokingham.gov.uk/planning and search for application number 213106.
For more details about the petition, visit change.org and search for Miles Aircraft Woodley.
