Politics & Council · Salisbury
Parish councils mount challenge against major drone facility plans near Salisbury
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Local councils are opposing plans for a significant drone research and manufacturing site at High Post, citing security risks and concerns over site suitability.
A formal battle is brewing over plans for a major new drone research and manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Salisbury. The proposed development, situated on land beside the A345 at High Post, has faced intense scrutiny from Durnford and Woodford Joint Parish Councils, who have launched a robust opposition against the scheme.
The project, which has been colloquially dubbed the High Post Drone Facility by objectors, involves the construction of a 6,968 square metre building dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and storage of uncrewed aerial systems. Plans submitted to Wiltshire Council also feature a new roundabout, access roads, parking facilities, landscaping and the installation of solar fields.
In a detailed submission to the local planning authority, the joint parish councils have criticised the proposal, claiming to have identified numerous errors and failures within the planning application. The councils argue that High Post is fundamentally the wrong location for such a facility. They have suggested that if the project does not require high-level security, it should be situated on established employment land, such as Fugglestone Red. Conversely, if security is a primary concern, they suggest that existing sites like Boscombe Down or Porton Down would be more appropriate.
Security fears have been further heightened by the proximity of the proposed site to the Chemring Countermeasures explosives facility. Objectors have urged planners to carefully weigh the risks, pointing to recent security incidents involving drone manufacturing facilities across Europe as a rationale for more rigorous scrutiny. The parish councils are now calling for a broader public debate involving MPs, Wiltshire Council leadership and local residents before any final decision is reached.
Beyond security and planning concerns, the project has attracted significant pushback from the public via the Wiltshire Council planning portal. Residents have raised alarms regarding the loss of greenfield land, the visual impact on the surrounding countryside, environmental consequences and the increased traffic burden on the A345.
The proposal is intrinsically linked to Callen-Lenz, an aerospace and defence company specialising in uncrewed aerial systems. The firm has previously been identified as a key prospective tenant for the wider Spitfire Innovation Park, a project which has long been the subject of intense debate in the local area. While supporters of the development argue that it will generate significant inward investment and high-skilled employment opportunities—with the company aiming to double its workforce to 500 over the next five years—opponents maintain that these potential economic benefits do not outweigh the environmental and logistical drawbacks.
Wiltshire Council is currently considering the application, filed under the reference PL/2026/01867. A decision is pending as officials review the volume of objections submitted by the community and the parish councils.
Source: Salisbury Journal — Salisbury · View original