A NEW rail freight depot, the extraction of around one million tons of gravel and the development of a mixed business park are being planned for the former Army base at Moreton- on - Lugg.

The new owners, who paid the Ministry of Defence more than £5 million for the 210-acre site, say the whole project could take 10 years to complete and eventually employ about 500 people.

The redundant military supplies depot is now owned by J & J (City) Ltd, builders and contractors dealing mainly in industrial buildings and office refurbishment and based in Uxbridge.

They have formed a new company, Greatwest Investments to run their new acquisition, to be known as Moreton Park and directors Andrew Horner and John Cronin have told The Hereford Times of their future plans.

Deposits

They revealed they had joined links with the giant aggregate company Tarmac to deal with mineral deposits on the site.

More than 80 acres of the land at Moreton are included in the county's mineral deposits plan and are expected to yield one million tons of sand and gravel.

The directors confirmed that its extraction was high on the priority list and could take place within three years.

Another major development would involve opening up the old rail link to the site.

The directors said this could cost in the region of £3 million. Rail Track had quoted £1 million to replace the track and points from the main line, including the cost of compensation for loss of business while the line was closed down for the work to be carried out.

Greatwest Investments wanted to create a rail freight depot at Moreton, which could be used by other businesses in the Hereford area.

Transport

Being able to transport goods by rail could bring redistribution companies to the county and talks with freight carriers are encouraging.

Mr Horner and Mr Cronin said plans were being drawn up to turn the major part of the complex into a comprehensive business park to incorporate industrial units, offices and accommodation for hi-tech businesses. They hoped to offer something for everyone and to build for specific uses.

They said full consultations would be carried out with Herefordshire Council and plans submitted shortly.

In the meantime they would be offering space in existing buildings for warehousing and storage purposes on short-term leases and at modest rates.

The directors described Moreton as a 'wonderful place' for people to work and that landscaping and conservation areas on the park would be retained.

Greatwest Investments are the new landlords of the soft drinks manufacturer Davies Brook who moved to Moreton three years ago.