Former WW2 military station to be sold in 2030
Marcus de FigueiredoA military station once home to a top-secret World War Two listening post could be sold from 2030, the government announced.
MoD Chicksands, near Shefford in Bedfordshire, was a Y station, which intercepted and logged coded enemy transmissions.
The site, which once housed a so-called elephant cage, or radar antenna array, is now used by Defence Intelligence.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was "working towards a schedule that will enable a disposal from 2030 onwards".
Labour MP Alistair Strathern said any sale would cause "understandable concerns" for the military community.
“I will be engaging closely with ministers to understand their plans for Chicksands, the impact on personnel and their families, and hold them accountable," the Mid Bedfordshire MP said.
"[This is] to ensure this isn’t used as an excuse to allow those living in service accommodation attached to Chicksands to continue to live in sub-standard conditions.”
Ben Schofield/BBCThe sale announcement was made by Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge in the House of Commons.
He did not offer any insight into the future of Chicksands Priory or the Military Intelligence Museum on the land.
Independent leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Adam Zerny, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would decide what is done with the site.
The station was opened shortly before World War Two and was leased to the United States Air Force (USAF) five years after combat in 1950.
Troops then vacated the station to make way for British allies in 1995 and it was partially turned into housing, with Central Bedfordshire Council opening a new headquarters there.
Defence Intelligence then used the rest of the site unaffected by housing.
The MoD spokesperson said: "MoD Chicksands will become surplus to military requirements when the current units move to more purpose built facilities as part of a significant investment in Defence Intelligence infrastructure.
“We are working towards a schedule that will enable a disposal from 2030 onwards.
"This will be refined as plans mature and construction begins.”
Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830