A NEW aircraft hangar for four aeroplanes, garage and terminal is set to be built at Walney Airfield.

BAE Systems wants to replace the facilities at the airfield with a new hangar capable of housing four Kingair planes, a vehicle garage for support vehicles, a fire engine, fuel bowser and grass cutting machinery, a car park and upgraded roadway, an aircraft apron and terminal and support building with air traffic control tower.

A planning application has been submitted to Barrow Borough Council, which is expected to be validated and published online in the next week.

A spokesman from BAE Systems Submarines said: "We have submitted a planning application to replace existing infrastructure that is reaching the end of its working life.

"Developing Walney airfield is part of our future plans, however no final decisions have been made."

A legal notice published in the Evening Mail states all work is to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority.

Construction of the original airfield started in 1940 after the site was acquired for the Royal Air Force and it was used as a training centre during the Second World War.

Vickers, the former owner of the shipyard, took over the airfield in 1968.

In 2006, BAE upgraded the runway to make it suitable for two Kingair planes.

The Lakes Gliding Club is also based at Walney, plus some privately owned aircraft.