Historic Paralympic huts face demolition plans

An emergency heritage notice has been issued to the birthplace of the Paralympic Games amid fears two historic buildings could be demolished.

Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury – where the flame was lit for the Winter Paralympics this week - wants to remove two 1950s huts in order to develop the area.

"Our aim is to develop the whole site and provide fantastic opportunities for disabled people," said Martin McElhatton, CEO of owners Wheelpower.

A pre-application notice was sent to Buckinghamshire Council, which issued the huts with a Building Preservation Notice, giving them temporary listed status.

The government will consider whether they should be formally added to the national list of protected buildings.

McElhatton said Wheelpower was meeting with Historic England on Thursday, which was the next stage of the process.

"We're dealing with them to explain our position. We're looking to develop that area as part of our wider masterplan.

"In order to free up that space, the huts need to be demolished," he told the BBC.

The huts were constructed between 1955 and 1959 under the leadership of Sir Ludwig Guttman, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of the Paralympic movement.

They were purpose-built to accommodate international competitors taking part in the Stoke Mandeville Games, which later evolved into the Paralympic Games.

The council said Hut A and Hut C together were the last surviving structures directly associated with the Stoke Mandeville Games.

Council documents state the buildings appear to be of "special architectural or historic interest".

However, McElhatton said the "historical link with the early games" was not a reason to keep them.

"We don't feel that huts meet the statutory listing criteria. They're prefabricated, temporary facilities put up in the 1950s.

"They haven't been used for accommodation in many, many years.

"They are just used for storage - sadly they are full of hazardous materials and are not fit to be used in any real purpose currently," he added.

McElhatton did not disclose the plans, but said "it would bring in significant investment, which would enable us to continue developing the site, providing improved facilities for disabled people and the local community."

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