§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many dwellings in Colchester were sold to Annington Homes; when the sale took place; how many dwellings are available for married soldiers; how many have been demolished; and how many have been sold; [68854]
(2) how many houses in the private sector are rented in Colchester to accommodate (a) soldiers and (b) married families; [68856]
1139W(3) what the average price per dwelling in Colchester sold by the Ministry of Defence to Annington Homes was; and what total sum was received for the dwellings in Colchester; [68855]
(4) if the Ministry of Defence will receive a share of the proceeds of former army houses at Colchester sold by Annington Homes. [68853]
§ Dr. MoonieIn 1996 most service families' accommodation in England and Wales was sold to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) under a sale and leaseback agreement. The sale raised £1.6 billion for the Exchequer, of which just under £35 million (about £25,000 per dwelling) related to some 1,400 family quarters in the Colchester area.
During 1996 and subsequently, a total of 182 houses in the Colchester area have been released to AHL for disposal. The rest (about 1,200) are still available for the Ministry of Defence to house service families. Of those released to AHL for disposal, some have been sold by the company, none have been demolished, but about 100 (of non-traditional construction) are awaiting development.
As part of the Sale of Agreement, a profit share scheme is in place under which the Exchequer receives a part of any profit AHL make from the properties released to them.
In the Colchester area, and separately from the arrangement with AHL, MOD rents 107 properties from the private sector, of which 106 accommodate single service personnel and one houses a service family.