Officers' H Block at Tangmere - one of the buildings that may be demolished if the housing development goes ahead. Photo James Liskutin

Parts of Tangmere airfield in West Sussex could be developed into housing, it has been revealed, after the county council sells land at the historic site.

West Sussex County Council, which owns two areas of land at the ex-RAF airbase, has agreed to sell 2.25 hectares (5.5 acres) there to housing developers pending a successful planning application. The sale puts the old fire station and an accommodation block used in World War Two at risk.

The purchaser, development company Seaward Ltd, submitted a planning application for 117 houses on the site on July 28 2006.

The county council and Seaward are now to consult with Chichester District Council and Tangmere Parish Council.

“It is hoped that a planning application can be prepared and submitted by the purchaser which will involve a further public consultation process,” said a West Sussex County Council statement.

One of the buildings had been used for storage by the fire brigade, but after new facilities were built the Tangmere block was surplus to requirements.

RAF Tangmere was vital to the defence of the nation during The Battle of Britain in World War Two. Photo James Liskutin

During World War Two, RAF Tangmere was an important base for fighter squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain as well as a base for 161 Squadron flying hundreds of Lysander missions into occupied France.

Legendary air ace Douglas Bader was stationed there and the base continued to be used for RAF flights up until the 1960s. The air speed record was broken from Tangmere in 1953 by Sir Neville Duke, clocking up 727 mph in a Hawker Hunter.

James Liskutin, grandson of Squadron Leader MA ‘Tony’ Liskutin, a Czech Spitfire pilot who served at Tangmere during and after the Second World War, is vocal in opposing development at Tangmere.

“Tangmere is part of my heritage and I suspect for many other people as well," he said. "They are planning on demolishing all this including the block where Douglas Bader was stationed. We need to preserve such an important piece of history for the youth of today to remember our debt of gratitude we owe.”

“My grandfather was one of the Czech pilots who came over in the war and when he went back to Czechoslovakia the communists tried to hunt them down so he came back and flew Gloucester Meteors at Tangmere again,” he explained.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council commented: "The land and building proposed for development are not covered by any planning restrictions - they have no listed status of any kind."

He also emphasised that the museum is safe and that the other key part of the site - the control tower - is not owned by the council.

The Westland Lysander, used in secret missions to occupied Europe from Tangmere in WWII. Photo: Dr J Tanner

A spokesperson from Chichester District Council, responsible for planning decisions at Tangmere, said that no planning application has yet been received. Keith Morgan, Head of Environment Policy Services, added: “We would seek to protect any historically important buildings and their setting.”

West Sussex County Council also owns 10 acres of former concrete apron at Tangmere airfield and also the perimeter track and skid pan, whose futures are also to be reviewed, according to the county council statement.

“The council is considering future use of the skid pan by appropriate organisations but there is no current intention to dispose of the concrete apron or perimeter track.”

“The future use of the apron area may come under consideration as part of Chichester District Council’s formal Local Development Framework public consultation process which is due to commence shortly, particularly as the government department which owns the adjoining substantial former grain storage intervention buildings has offered these for sale.”

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum is located at the airfield. Photo Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum occupies land at the airfield and Alan Bower, curator at the museum, said:

“We have been consulted by County Council and District Council plus Parish Council. We are sorry about the potential loss of some of the old buildings (fire station and H accommodation block) at this stage. But we recognise that these so-called brownfield sites are prime targets for development.”

Mr Bower recognised that any development at the airfield could eventually affect the museum itself:

“At present we have verbal agreement with all parties that if ultimately the museum is required to move location on the airfield all will support the development of a so called Landmark building to re-house us. This if it happens is well into the future.”