Renovation plan for hangar near fatal Bicester fire

Bicester Motion wants to conserve Hangar 113 to use as offices and an events space

A hanger on a business park near the site where two firefighters and a member of the public died in a fire could be conserved and repaired under new plans.

Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the blaze at Hangar 79 on the Bicester Motion site on 15 May.

The business centre wants to repair and restore Hangar 113 on the 444-acre former RAF base to allow it to be reused as an office and events space.

Bicester Motion said it had submitted designs to Cherwell District Council to "secure the future" of the Grade II listed hangar.

Martyn Sadler, Jennie Logan and Dave Chester all died in the fire in May

Originally built in 1937, plans for the 88-year-old building include essential repairs, restoring its roof and putting in heating and cooling systems.

Daniel Geoghegan, chief executive officer at Bicester Motion, said: "Providing Hangar 113 with a sustainable new purpose will allow its architectural and historical significance to be appreciated for another 100 years while aligning with our mission for the future of mobility."

Hangar 79 is being sensitively demolished following the fire. The process started on 6 August and is expected to take about four months.

The hangar was built in 1926-27 to house up to 12 De Havilland DH9A aircraft.

Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries in the May fire and were later discharged from hospital. Investigations are ongoing.

Hangar 113, a Type C RAF hangar built in 1937, needs essential repairs including the restoration of its roof