Tidworth stables destroyed by fire will be rebuilt
Wiltshire Council's given permission for the Jagdalik Road site
A Grade II listed building in Tidworth that was destroyed by a fire will be restored, after Wiltshire Council has approved plans for its reconstruction.
The Stables building, on Jadgalik Road, was devastated by a huge fire in July 2022 which left large sections of it in urgent need of repair.
The fire was concluded to have been an accident, but several windows and external doors, as well as a section of the timber first floor, were lost to the blaze.
With an approved application, Aspire Defence Services Ltd has now received permission to carry out the full reconstruction work.
This will include rebuilding the roof, with timber trusses informed by the originals and remaining trusses in areas of the building not impacted by the fire.
According to the plans, it will be covered in natural blue-black slate to match the previous style.
Red brickwork will also be used to resemble the existing aesthetic of the site, painted white within the courtyard area.
The application states that although the renovation will replicate a modern office and stores environment, enhanced insulated materials and up-to-date building services will be used to improve performance and energy efficiency.
Overall, Gateley Smithers Purslow, the surveyors who submitted the plans on behalf of Aspire Defence, said the works will not affect the scale of the building and that its “existing character” will be maintained.
The Stables were built in the mid-19th century and became part of the Ministry of Defence estate when the War Office acquired Tedworth House and land in 1897.
The site had been used for offices and storage since its latest conversion in 2005.
The application concluded: “The historical qualities and proportions of the property will be respected and preserved.”
The materials have been chosen to match the existing property and the design for the windows that were destroyed by the fire and fire-fighting efforts will use the remaining windows as templates.
Although no one was injured in the 2022 fire, the emergency brought 20 fire appliances to the scene.
The fire is believed to have started in the stores area of the building and spread through one wing of the building and roof.
After its repairs, The Stables building will continue to be used by the Tidworth branch of Aspire Defence.