HC Deb 02 March 1998 vol 307 c489W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bids were received by his Department for the land at Gunwharf, Portsmouth. [31721]

Mr. Spellar

Six.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on the basis of what criteria his Department's land at Gunwharf, Portsmouth was disposed of. [31722]

Mr. Spellar

Offers for the Gunwharf site were sought on the basis of open market value and took into account the Planning Brief for the site previously provided by Portsmouth City Council.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the requirements of the proposed Millennium project for Portsmouth Harbour in considering bids for land at Gunwharf, Portsmouth. [31723]

Mr. Spellar

My officials in the Defence Estates Organisation who have been handling the sale of the Gunwharf site have worked closely with Portsmouth City Council and the Millennium Commission to ensure that the Millennium requirements for Portsmouth Harbour were made fully known to parties interested in purchasing the site. Those requirements were expressed in the City Council's Development Brief and a Draft Planning Agreement available to prospective purchasers prior to making offers to acquire the site. An assessment of those requirements was therefore taken into account in the evaluation of the proposals and offers for the site.