The Ministry of Defence has sold its 185-acre RAF West Raynham site in Fakenham, Norfolk to the Welbeck Estate Wells and Hodge Homes for £9m.
The ‘technical site’ includes the former married quarters comprising 172 houses, a number of two and three-storey barrack blocks and four hangers together with various administrative and workshop facilities.
The disposal of the remainder of the site is subject to negotiations with former owners.
Cardiff-based Hodge Homes, which plans a housing-led development, said the acquisition was its 35th from the MoD in 25 years.
The MoD’s property arm Defence Estates is also considering sales of RAF Coltishall, the 740-acre home to Jaguar jets since 1974, RAF Wyton, in St Ives in Cambridgeshire, one of the MOD’s largest administrative bases, and the 726-acre former Waterbeach Barracks in Cambridgeshire.
It wants to bring forward the sites as a panacea for the East of England’s housing crisis.
Defence minister Tom Watson said: “The sale of surplus land at RAF West Raynham has freed-up a valuable brown-field site for future development and the benefit of the local area.
“Not only is this in line with Government policy and in support of the MOD’s long-term goal to rationalise its estate, it also delivers best value for the department and the taxpayer.”
Drivers Jonas acted for the MoD’s property arm Defence Estates.
References: EGi News 08/08/06
