The design developed by award-winning architects Walker & Martin takes its inspiration from the innovation and bravery of Sheppey’s earliest aviators. Flying Start pays homage to the work of Lt JW Dunne and his inherently stable tailless, swept wing aircraft, whose pioneering work can be traced on to Concorde and the Stealth bomber.

Not a ‘dusty museum’ but a Living Landmark, Flying Start has been designed as a highly flexible space that meets the broadest possible range of interests: aviations enthusiasts, visitors, local residents, the business community and the Island’s leisure industry.

Flying Start is much more than simply a visitor attraction that tells the story of early British aviation, it’s about providing an iconic focus for the communities on the Isle of Sheppey to nurture civic pride, regenerate the local economy and be a centre of culture and learning.

The concept is to provide an innovative building large enough to encompass the original listed workshops, the old aircraft hangars and the space between under one roof, one giant ‘aircraft’, a building fit for the 21st Century and beyond.

By adopting this approach it is not then necessary to restore fully the old buildings. Their original life span has now been far exceeded and to restore and weather protect them would prove expensive and lead to a route of restoration and replacement rather than preservation. More importantly they would become physical markers to a past history, and as such become celebrated as exhibits in their own right within the new building.

Environmental sustainability in design has been Flying Start’s watchword. The main structure of the roof will be timber, using low grade or recycled timbers laminated together with a top and bottom stressed skin of ply, not unlike the construction of an aircraft wing. Timber is a sustainable material and low grade or recycled timbers are a responsible choice for the design. The roof will then be clad in metal, akin to the construction of an aircraft wing. In order to provide a natural source of light and an inspiring backdrop, a large Texlon ETFE foil cushion roof light has also been incorporated.

At an early stage sustainable energy sources have been embodied the design concept, including the installation of a 70 - 90m tall wind turbine. Geothermal ground source energy will be harnessed to provide heating and cooling elements to the floor constructions throughout the building complex and a new plant room with roof collector will harness solar energy to provide hot water. Rain water will be collected from the roof as part of a grey water recycling system.

The building’s footprint is approximately 152m x 110m with a floor area of 10,400 sqm. At the highest point it will soar to 34 metres to the west from zero in the east.

The existing Mill House building on the site is maintained and forms ancillary space on the ground floor for; an independent café/bistro, admin offices and on the upper floor; exhibition gallery and small business incubator units.