Ministry to sell hangars on (From Stroud News and Journal)

Ministry to sell hangars on

LARGE chunks of government land near Minchinhampton are up for grabs this week.

The Ministry of Defence is hoping to sell five huge plots of land with 18 hangars at Aston Down airfield, near Minchinhampton, where thousands of servicemen were stationed during the Second World War.

MoD agents Drivers Jonas hope to sell the plots as a single lot but say they will consider selling off segments individually.

The plots are around the edge of the airfield which is owned by Cotswold Gliding Club.

The main site measures 57 acres and comprises 23 buildings with covered storage space of more than 256,000 sq ft in eight hangars. There are five other smaller sites which have two hangars of around 45,000 sq ft each. The total land for sale is 136 acres.

Although a small part of the site is within the Cotswold District Council area, it is mainly within the Stroud District Council boundary.

The sites are in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and are not earmarked for any development in Stroud District Council's draft local plan, which is expected to be adopted next year.

The MoD had used the buildings for vehicle storage and for restoring brass ammunition casings. They were now surplus to requirements, said Adam Pappini of agents Drivers Jonas.

"Anything from the size of a matchbox to a house was stored there," he said, adding that bids would be considered during the next six to eight weeks.

Cllr Peter Munday, Minchinhampton Parish Council chairman, told the News & Journal that development of the site, if any, would be discussed by the council at a future meeting.

Anyone interested in the site or part of it can call 0207 8968218 for details.