An RAF exhibition building to commemorate local artefacts from World War Two could be built in East Cambridgeshire.

Grovemere Property Limited have submitted plans to East Cambs District Council to expand the Apex Coffee House at Lancaster Business Park in Ely, as well as create a new RAF Exhibition building containing items from RAF Witchford and RAF Mepal.

Under the proposal, Apex Coffee House is set to be expanded to boost the businesses' presence in Ely. The café expansion will be accompanied by a state-of-the-art exhibition building.

The new building is set to be a state-of-the-art exhibition.The new building is set to be a state-of-the-art exhibition. (Image: Image taken from planning documents) In artist impressions submitted with the plans, the building design looks to be akin to the fuselage of a Lancaster Bomber. The design relates to the existing plaque at the site, which commemorates the no. 115 Squadron that flew from RAF Witchford.

The plaque at Lancaster Way commemorating the no. 115 Squadron.The plaque at Lancaster Way commemorating the no. 115 Squadron. (Image: Image taken from planning documents) The Lancaster Bomber design will follow into the inside of the building to give visitors a feel of what it is like inside the aircraft.

The proposed exhibition will be made up of local artefacts from World War Two from RAF Witchford, with additions from RAF Mepal.

The Design and Access Statement reads: "The building should provide a flexible open plan space that allows the display of a combination of digital and analogue interpretations of the story of the airfield, its people and its place in history."

The plans aim to create a "visitor experience and local educational attraction" in Ely to boost a local business and tourism in the city.

The two buildings, Apex Coffee House and the RAF Witchford Exhibition, will sit in close proximity with one another as the exhibition is set to be unmanned, meaning that "natural surveillance" from the coffee shop will be required.

Concerns had previously been raised regarding the visual impact that the exhibition would have if it sat behind the coffee shop. Amended plans have been put forward to make the visibility of the proposed building enhanced.