Old RAF site in David Niven film could become holiday let

The former RAF Ibsley helped Leslie Howard and fellow matinee idol David Niven tell the story of how R J Mitchell designed one of the most famous aircraft in aviation history.

Now a £3m plan to turn the airfield's former control tower into a holiday let for eight people has taken a major step forward.

An application to restore and convert the two-storey building near Ringwood has been submitted to New Forest District Council by the Landmark Trust.

The control tower at RAF Ibsley, near Ringwood, in its hey-day (Image: The Landmark Trust)

Also known as Ibsley's watch office, the control tower was built in 1941-42.

READ MORE: Plan to turn part of former RAF Ibsley into luxury holiday accommodation

The application says: "The goal is to adapt the existing structure for holiday accommodation while recreating - as far as practical - the original character of the building.

"RAF Ibsley was built on farmland belonging to the Somerley Estate.

"It was the first airfield to be built in the Avon Valley and was one of 12 RAF and USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) airfields in the New Forest during WWII.

"The watch office is the most significant surviving physical evidence of the airfield."

RAF Ibsley was built on farmland owned by the Somerley Estate. The site is now home to Blashford Lakes (Image: Landmark Trust)

The building is derelict and covered in graffiti, with one of the images showing Winston Churchill giving his famous V For Victory salute.

The application says: "While the overall impression of its condition is extremely poor it is salvageable in the opinion of Ed Morton, structural engineer and director of The Morton Partnership.

"His report finds the building is not beyond structural repair and rehabilitation, through considerable intervention is required."

READ MORE: Forgotten history of abandoned RAF stations in Hampshire

The building contains traces of its original fittings. If the scheme is given the go-ahead, the relics will be restored and reinstated to provide evidence of its wartime role.

The Landmark Trust says it needs £3m to restore the former control tower and convert it into holiday accommodation (Image: Landmark Trust)

The control tower is not a listed structure but is regarded as being of "considerable architectural significance".

Speaking earlier this year a Landmark Trust spokesperson said: " The restoration will combine environmental sustainability and accessibility, honour wartime aesthetics yet introduce modern comforts.

"The former control room will become a kitchen, dining and living area with sweeping views, the former offices, restrooms and stores will become bedrooms and bathrooms."

Trust director Anna Keay described the watch office as a "wartime monument to human courage" but said it was currently in great danger.

She added: "Rescue by the Landmark Trust is its last hope."