HC Deb 21 June 2004 vol 422 cc1178-9W
Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis, and with what external advice, the site of the Army Medal Office in Droitwich was(a) assessed as being suitable for residential development and (b) valued. [178996]

Mr. Caplin

The land was assessed as suitable for housing based on earlier informal contacts with the Local Planning Authority and a series of inquiries received from, or on behalf of national housebuilders. In the four years preceding the valuation date, five enquiries or re-enquiries were received of this nature. These continued approaches indicated a local demand for building land.

The valuation was prepared by Defence Estates 1 own in-house Chartered Surveyors. In making the valuation, due regard was given to knowledge gained from open market residential land transactions, while taking into account the nature of the site at Droitwich.