RAF East Camp, Hendon (Hansard, 18 October 1993)

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the 36 acre site at RAF East Camp in Hendon; what was its estimated value six years ago; and what effect his Department expects further delays in its disposal to have on the return on the sale of the site.
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§ Mr. Hanley
This information is commercial in confidence and it would be prejudicial to current and future negotiations for the sale of the site to release it. The effect of further delays in the disposal of the site on the financial return from sale is dependent on the movement of property values in general.

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent listed buildings of a national heritage calibre are being vandalised and are falling into disrepair at the 36 acre site at RAF East Camp in Hendon; and when he estimates that work to develop this section set aside for the RAF museum will be started.

§ Mr. Hanley
The listed buildings at the former East Camp of RAF Hendon are being protected against vandalism and the weather as far as possible, but as the buildings are not in use, they can be expected to deteriorate. Negotiations over the area set aside for the RAF museum continue and we aim to conclude them as quickly as possible.

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long the 36 acre site at RAF East Camp in Hendon has been vacant; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in disposal of the site.

§ Mr. Hanley
The former East Camp of RAF Hendon has been vacant for 5.5 years. A downturn in the property market, inadequate infrastructure for alternative uses, listed building constraints and an inability to reconcile local planning aspirations with developer demand have contributed to the delay in disposal of the site.

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to develop the 36 acre site at RAF East Camp in Hendon ; when he estimates that they will be implemented; and if he will give an estimate of the effect on the revenues to his Department of the length of time during which this property has been left vacant.

§ Mr. Hanley
It remains our aim to bring about the development of the former East Camp of RAF Hendon as soon as practicable. Two acres have been sold to the Metropolitan police and an offer for a further five acres of the site including the former officers mess is under consideration. My Department is unable to secure the viable reuse of the majority of East Camp and optimise the potential financial return while wider planning issues remain unresolved.

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up a public inquiry to establish the circumstances that have led to a delay in the development of the RAF East Camp in Hendon and to the state of listed buildings on the site; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Hanley
No such inquiry is planned.

§ Mr. Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems his Department has encountered relating to planning permission from the borough of Barnet in disposing of the 36 acre site at RAF East Camp in Hendon; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Hanley
Negotiations with the London borough of Barnet have been protracted and there remains a fundamental difference of opinion between the borough council, the Ministry of Defence and our professional62W consultants regarding the ways in which the site might be redeveloped. In particular, the borough council's planning brief has not generated any viable commercial interest when tested in the marketplace, given the constraints upon the site and the generally depressed state of the property market. We are, however, maintaining a constructive dialogue to try to resolve the difficulties as quickly as possible.