A REVOLUTIONARY new style of business and living is set to take off at a Hampshire airfield, creating up to 30 new jobs.

Local businessman and pilot Peter Day has submitted a planning application to Gosport Borough Council for the UK’s first hangar live-and-work business homes at Solent Airport at Daedalus in Lee-on-Solent.

Under the plans, the scheme would include five separate hangars which would be aimed at aviation businesses.

They would have a ground floor for business use while a residential quarter would be provided upstairs consisting of four en suite bedrooms.

There would also be an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area, opening on to a large balcony overlooking the airfield.

The scheme also includes an aviation heritage centre and a themed play area next to the existing visitor’s centre by the control tower which the developers say could transform the site.

Talking about the vision, 65-year-old Mr Day said: “This is a great opportunity for Lee on the Solent to get on the map with general aviation.

“If planning permission is granted, these would be the very first hangar homes anywhere in the UK, and will hopefully be the start of hangar homes being adopted elsewhere on suitable, non-commercial, General Aviation (GA) airfields.

“I’ve had interest from airfields all over the UK including Newtownards in Northern Ireland.

“Also included is a heritage centre which Fareham Borough Council have been looking at building, we are accommodating this into the plans.

“We also have four aviation businesses expressing an interest in moving into the hangars.”

Alongside this, Peter will also build a four-seater Velocity kit aircraft in one of the hangars subject to a ‘Permit to Fly’ being issued by the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) with the help of students from CEMAST, part of Fareham College who are also based on the airfield.

Currently, the Velocity isn’t allowed to fly in the UK because the aviation authorities say the plane cannot comply with the minimum air speed of 61 knots.

However, designers of the aircraft have modified it to comply with the minimum air speed for a German customer and are prepared to provide the same modification to UK models which would allow it to fly in the UK.

The plans will be decided by Gosport Borough Council in the new year. If approved, the proposal will then be considered by the owners of the airfield, Fareham Borough Council before construction commences.

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council said: “I am aware of the plans, anything that assists with aviation is good.

“It’s a novel idea and we will consider the plans should Gosport Borough Council give planning consent.”