News release

In a deal worth almost £100m, English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, has completed one of its biggest single acquisitions with the purchase of the disused Oakington Barracks in south Cambridgeshire from Defence Estates.  The purchase of the 288 ha site is set to unlock the development of the proposed new town of Northstowe, creating up to 10,000 new homes.

Northstowe, which is five miles from the centre of Cambridge, will be developed on the former airfield and adjacent land near Longstanton and Oakington. The new town will contribute to the region’s growth agenda and ease pressure on the Cambridge housing market that currently suffers from a shortage of new and affordable homes.  

The land sale is another example of the strong working relationship between the two agencies in devising strategies to make best use of surplus public sector land in line with government aspirations.

Margaret Ford, Chairman of English Partnerships said, “This is another significant example of government agencies working together to bring forward surplus land effectively and for the benefit of local communities.  The land at Oakington will make a significant contribution to Northstowe where a new and sustainable community offering homes, amenities, jobs and open space is planned in an area of housing need.”

Defence Estates Chief Executive, Vice Admiral Peter Dunt, added, “Government is committed to using more brownfield land to create sustainable communities with affordable housing. The sale of Oakington is yet another example of the strong working relationship between two government agencies in devising strategies to make best use of surplus public sector land.  This sale reflects the joint Framework Agreement signed by Defence Estates and English Partnerships.”

Since 2003* English Partnerships has acquired more than 2,000 ha of surplus public sector land, which is expected to provide around 20,000 homes nationally over the next 10 years as part of a comprehensive regeneration programme.  The biggest single contribution to this portfolio was the completion of a deal to transfer 96 former hospital sites to the agency in April 2005.

As well as these significant acquisitions, English Partnerships has introduced a range of other initiatives aimed at ensuring public sector land is used more effectively. These include The Register of Surplus Public Sector Land  - a comprehensive database currently listing more than 700 sites, owned by 40 public sector agencies, totalling almost 5,000 ha of land - as well as framework and collaborative working agreements with other government bodies.

DTZ Debenham Tie Leung acted for English Partnerships in the acquisition of Oakington.

1. The value of the site has been determined by independent valuers for both English Partnerships and Defence Estates and the deal involves a transfer of £99.5m between English Partnerships (ODPM) and Defence Estates (Ministry of Defence).

2. English Partnerships is the government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. We do this by developing our portfolio of strategic projects and acting as the government’s advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan (*published in 2003, the Plan identified a wider role for English Partnerships in bringing forward the reuse of surplus public sector land). English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live. Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

3. Defence Estates is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence.  On 1 April 2005 it was re-launched with responsibilities for managing the defence estate as a corporate asset on behalf of the MOD, and for the delivery of estate maintenance, works and services.  The Agency assumed responsibility for the management and maintenance of the Service Families Accommodation estate in the mainland UK on 1 April 2004, following its merger with the Defence Housing Executive. Nationally, Defence Estates has been tasked with disposing of around £500m worth of assets over the next four years, from a portfolio that is currently valued at £14.4 bn.  The long-term aim is for Defence Estates to focus its activities on fewer, larger sites by consolidating its national property assets.

4. A joint framework agreement signed between the two agencies in 2004 sets out a flexible working approach ranging from English Partnerships purchasing sites for development through to partnership arrangements where both agencies collaborate on design and planning to create a masterplan for the future delivery of a site. 

5. English Partnerships is currently advising Defence Estates on Project MoDEL a major disposals programme that will consolidate Ministry of Defence activities in and around London and could yield development potential for around 10,000 homes with the release of 90 ha of brownfield sites within the M25.  English Partnerships has also worked closely with Defence Estates on plans for the creation of a sustainable urban extension on MoD land at Aldershot.

6. Defence Estates was advised in the sale by Donaldsons and Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.