A SECOND former Army base in Herefordshire is up for sale. Moreton Camp, covering 85 hectares, or 210 acres, went on the market this week and the Government's Defence Estates is hoping for a quick deal, writes LIZ WATKINS.

No one is prepared to talk about the price, which could be in the region of £4 million.

Property consultants Knight Frank who are responsible for the sale have confirmed that the site, now known as Moreton Park will be sold as one lot.

The land was purchased by the Ministry of Defence in 1942 and used as a military storage depot until it became redundant in the mid-1990s.

High deposits

Now planners are indicating that its future use should still lie in storage and distribution coupled with office and light industrial such as research and development and high tech.

The northern area of the site contains high deposits of sand and gravel and has been included in the local mineral plan for possible future extraction.

The local drinks company Davies Brook moved to the old Moreton Camp in 1997, being granted a 24-year lease to occupy one of the main industrial buildings.

Part of the land on the site lies next to the main Newport to Crewe rail line and includes some sidings.

Richard Walters of Knight Frank described the site as of great importance to Herefordshire.

It had the ability to attract inward investment, create new jobs and offer potential expansion facilities for local companies thwarted by a lack of supply of suitable accommodation.

"If Herefordshire is to compete with the M5/Worcester to the east, and Wales to the west it needs to offer employment sites large enough, and with sufficient opportunities to attract significant investors and occupiers who could then take advantage of the excellent working environment provided by the city and county as a whole,'' he said.

Moreton Park, four miles from Hereford comprises various large warehouse units, a green field and marsh wet land with five hectares of woodland and part of the northern area is covered in 48 Nissen huts in various states of repair.

The former army base now joins that of Bradbury Estate, once the home of the SAS, to be offered in the property market.

More details abut Moreton Park are available from Knight Frank on Cardiff 029 2049 2492.