§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prospective purchasers have(a) made initial enquiries and (b) negotiated in respect of the Dean Hill site; when he expects to conclude a sale; and if he will make a statement. [179483]
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§ Mr. CaplinDefence Estates has undertaken an expressions of interests campaign ahead of marketing the site. There were 175 initial inquiries, with 54 parties having expressed an interest in acquiring all or parts of the site.
Our current aim is to market the site in spring 2005, subject to legal advice on whether the former owner (Crichel Down) rules apply.
No negotiations have yet taken place, but discussions on conservation issues are in progress.