A FULL planning application has been submitted for the new Wiltshire Air Ambulance base.

Plans have been in the pipeline for a year to move to land at Outmarsh Farm, south of Hampton Park West Industrial Estate in Semington, near Trowbridge.

This would enable the charity’s helicopter, aircrew and office staff to be on one site.

At the moment the helicopter and aircrew are based at Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes, while the charity team is based in offices on Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne.

Kevin Reed, head of operations at WAA, said: “The response we had to our proposed plans for our new home during our latest public consultation was overwhelmingly supportive.

"We currently lease a hangar at police headquarters in Devizes for our helicopter and aircrew and we rent offices in Calne for our charity team.

"Having a purpose-built facility will enable us to have full control over our future and bringing together the aircrew and the charity team onto one site will improve our service.

“As Melksham does not have an ambulance station, we believe that Wiltshire Air Ambulance would provide enhanced medical cover for the area.

"Our paramedics are trained in critical care skills and as well as responding in our helicopter, they can also respond to emergencies such as road traffic collisions, heart attacks and strokes in a rapid response vehicle (car).”

The charity was granted outline planning permission in February before carrying a public consultation on the proposed design with residents in the area.

The new Semington base would allow the helicopter to reach all parts of the county within 11 minutes and the design of WAA’s proposed new home is a two-storey building of just under 1,500 square metres.

Set helicopter departure and approach routes have been identified to avoid populated areas.

In addition, no fly zones will be applied over Bowerhill, Berryfield and Semington, unless the helicopter is attending those areas.

Comments can be made on the application by visiting www.wiltshire.gov.uk using the planning application reference 16/09699/FUL until November 18.

The charity’s Bell 429 helicopter started operating in January 2015 and is the first of its type to operate as an air ambulance in the UK. 

It has a top speed of 155 knots (178 mph) and is fitted out with the most recent Aerolite equipment to meet the highest helicopter emergency medical service specification.

It costs £3.25 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying - £8,904 per day. 

Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a charity and relies almost entirely on public donations to keep flying as it does not receive central government funding. Visit: www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk