David Wilson Buys Ex-RAF Base for pounds 90M

LONDON-Defence Estates, the property arm of the Ministry of Defence, has achieved its biggest-ever land sale, raising more than 90 million ($140 million) with the sale of the 120-acre former RAF Burtonwood air base near Warrington, Cheshire.

The purchaser, David Wilson Homes, plans to implement a ten-year development plan to transform the site into a new settlement, to be called Chapelford Urban Village. The site, two miles north of Warrington, is accessed off new Junction 8 of the M62 motorway, which also serves the proposed 7 million-sf Omega Park industrial and office development.

David Wilson Homes plans to build across its entire product range on the site, from one- and two-bedroom apartments to five bedroom detached houses. In addition, there will be affordable housing, a school, health centre, commercial and retail facilities, a public park, new rail station, and community facilities.

Caroline Pelham-Lane, Project Manager for Defence Estates said: “It isvery satisfying to foster the creative re-use of redundant land in line withGovernment policy.”

Drivers Jonas advised Defence Estates.