HC Deb 20 February 1990 vol 167 cc674-5W
Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the historic buildings at the royal arsenal, Woolwich, indicating when each became vacant or its current use.

Mr. Neubert

The information requested is as follows:

Building Date of construction Category of listing Use of date of vacation
1. Royal laboratory pavilions 1696 Grade II Last used cl960 as workshops
2. Royal brass foundry 1717 Grade I In use as archive store
3. Academy building 1719 Grade II In use as mess
4. Dial square block 1717 Grade II Last used cl964 as workshops
5. Verbruggen's house 1772 Grade II Last used cl975 as offices
6. Grand store 1806–1813 Grade II A proportion in use for offices and stores.
Other offices last used in 1986.
Remainder last used as stores c1960.
7. Middle gate house 1810 Grade II In use as offices.
8. Riverside guard rooms 1814–15 Grade II Last used for storage cl978.
9. New carriage store 1778 Grade II In use as forms store.
10. Main guard house 1788 Grade II In use as pedestrian access and offices
11. Rifle shell factory gate house 1856 Grade II Last used cl964 for foundry offices.
12. Middle gate cl850 Grade II Last used as access cl970.

Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of his plans to redevelop the area of the royal arsenal, Woolwich, declared surplus to defence requirements.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

A presentation has now been given to the London borough of Greenwich outlining our proposals for the development of the royal arsenal west site, which we intend to vacate during the period 1993 to 1995.

This is part of a continuing process leading to disposal of the site. We await the council's response to our ideas.

Mr. Cartwright

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects his Department to(a) start and (b) complete the vacation of the royal arsenal Woolwich.

Mr. Neubert

In the spring of 1990 about 50 staff employed on Army publications will move from the royal arsenal to Woolwich common. The major occupier of the royal arsenal, the directorate general of defence quality assurance (DGDQA), is currently scheduled to be transferred progressively to Teesside between mid-1993 and the end of 1994. A number of other branches and organisations also accommodated on the site will need to vacate before DGDQA leaves.