§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their intention to proceed with the proposal to build an underground bunker covering nine acres on the site of Hollybush Farm, Naphill, High Wycombe; whether the land is owned by the National Trust, whose objection to the project would involve an inquiry by a Parliamentary Select Committee; and whether the use of the site for the proposed purpose would not infringe its Green Belt status within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
§ Viscount TrenchardHer Majesty's Government are planning to construct a new underground operations centre on 12 acres of land adjacent to RAF High Wycombe. The land is owned by the National Trust, who have said they are prepared to make it available to the Ministry of Defence on a 99-year lease, provided satisfactory arrangements can be agreed on landscaping, restoration, and an access route for construction traffic. Full discussions have taken place between the trust, the Ministry of Defence and the Property Services Agency on these issues, and agreement has been reached on most of them. Negotiations are continuing on the remainder.
The site lies within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has Green Belt status, but considerable care has been taken in drawing up the plans to ensure that the project, once completed, will have virtually no visual impact on the surrounding area. The local authority raised no objections to the project.