FORMER GAMA SITE, GREENHAM COMMON, NEAR NEWBURY

FORMER GAMA SITE,
GREENHAM COMMON,
NEAR NEWBURY,
BERKSHIRE RG14 7HQ
The boundary highlighted above in red is for guidance purposes only.
Potential purchasers should satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the site boundaries.
FORMER GAMA SITE,
GREENHAM COMMON, NEAR
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE
RG14 7HQ.
◆
Former Ground Launched Cruise Missile Alert and Maintenance Area
◆
SPV with freehold for sale, with full vacant possession, no rights of way or easements
◆
Gross site area extending to approximately 73.85 acres (29.89 hectares)
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Planning consent for the storage of over 6,000 cars. Suitable for alternative uses
subject to planning and scheduled monument consent
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Probably the most secure above ground storage available in 6 former nuclear bunkers
with additional hardened buildings totalling over 75,000 sq. ft
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Opportunity to own a site deemed of national importance
Location
Newbury is a prosperous Thames Valley town on the River Kennet, 16 miles west of Reading and
8 miles north-west of Basingstoke. The town benefits from its proximity to the M4
Motorway (junction 13, 4miles) to the North and 3 miles from A34 dual carriageway, a
major north-south arterial route which can be accessed via the B4640 at Tothill Services.
The M3 at Basingstoke is approx. 8 miles Southeast.
The property is situated less than 2 miles to the south-east of Newbury town centre and was formerly
part of RAF Greenham Common which is now disused. The majority of the former air field buildings
now comprise the new Greenham Park Business Park a short distance to the east whilst the
remainder of the airfield is now vested in the local authority, West Berkshire District Council. The
property is accessed direct from the A339, Brackenhurst Lane via a shared roadway.
Description
The property comprises an irregular shaped site of 29.89 hectares (73.85 acres) which is
broadly level, but includes a low lying area known as Drayton’s Gully. The site
accommodates a large area of concrete hard standing and various surfaced roads servicing
a number of underground stores, six triple silo surfaced bunkers and a number of other
buildings. The bunkers are constructed with 1.5m thick reinforced concrete to the roof with
2.6m of sand above and were designed to protect against bomb blasts. Internally they are
each split into 3 bays with hydraulic doors at either end which have been decommissioned.
The doors are estimated to weigh approximately 25 tonnes each.
The remainder of the site comprises scrubland, the whole being surrounded by a triple, part
quadruple, boundary security fence. A small part of the site is designated as a Site of
Special Scientific Interest. The site is designated as a Scheduled Monument (30905).
Accommodation
The property comprises the following approximate gross internal areas:
Sq Ft
Sq M
Six Triple Former Missile Silos
39,548
3,674
Five Former Storage Bunkers
8,902
827
Former Underground Garage
6,588
612
Maintenance Shed
17,565
1,631
Former Store Shed
2,874
267
Former Guard Room, Entry Post and Garage
2,691
250
78,168
7,261
Total
History
RAF Greenham Common, opened in 1941, was associated with many notable historic wartime
events including operation Torch in 1943 (the invasion of North Africa), the D-Day landings in
June 1944 and Operation Market Garden, the parachute drop to capture the bridge at Arnhem.
In 1946 the base was closed and returned to Newbury District Council, but in 1951, with worsening
international relations brought to a head by the Korean War, the heath was re-requisitioned and
work began to reconstruct the base to receive USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) Bombers.
The remodelled form of the airfield with its long 3,048m single runway and concrete apron in front of
the hangers, was the classic form for many post-War airfields. Throughout the remainder of the
1950s it was one of the four principal SAC airfields in Britain and B-47 Stratojets and their refuelling
tankers were regularly rotated through Greenham Common; from 1958 a number were maintained
on constant standby as part of the Reflex Alert Scheme. In April 1964 the airfield passed back to the
RAF, but in 1968 the USAF again reoccupied it, this time as a standby base.
Around 1980 Greenham Common was selected as one of six bases in Europe for the deployment
of Ground Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCM), making the airfield a prime target for Soviet attack. It
was at this time that the airfield received world-wide recognition, through the women’s peace camp
and their opposition to escalation of the nuclear arms race represented by the introduction of
GLCMs. The last GLCMs were withdrawn from Europe in mid-1991 under the terms of the
intermediate-range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty, signed in June 1988. RAF Greenham Common
closed in 1992 although the GAMA site remains and is now considered of significant historical
importance.
Planning
Planning consent exists for the storage of over 6,000 cars for 10 years.
Tenure
The subject site is held within an SPV. Further details are available on request.
Services
It is understood that some service infrastructure is on site. However, the external
connections have been removed or sealed.
VAT
All offers should be exclusive of VAT which may be charged on
the purchase price.
Inspection
The property may be inspected by prior appointment only
through the Sole Selling Agent.
Proposal
We are offering for sale one of the most important cold war
sites in existence in the UK. Given the highly secure nature of
the site it is potentially one of the most secure above ground
facilities available and could be suitable for a number of uses
subject to the necessary consents.
Uses include:•
Number 1 Cold War Attraction in Europe –
Stonehenge, a monument with similar status attracts
over 1m visitors annually
•
Ultra Secure Facility
•
Sunday Market
•
Car Storage & Auctions
•
Events – concerts
•
Filming and TV Work
Substantial offers are invited for the freehold; consideration will
also be given to letting of the whole or parts. Joint venture
proposals will also be considered.
Further information
For further information, please contact:
Shane Prater
Quintons
Tel: 01635 262 510
Email: [email protected]
Crown Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
Licence Number 100020449. Plotted Scale - 1:20000
Important notice
1. No description or information given by Quintons whether or not in these Particulars and whether written or verbal (“information”) about the property or its condition or its value may be relied upon as a statement or representation of fact.
Quintons has no authority to make any representations and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agent(s) or the seller(s) or lessor(s). These particulars do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer
or contract. 2. The photographs show only certain parts of the property at the time they were taken. Any areas measurements or distances given are approximate only. 3. Any reference to alterations to, or use of any part of the property is not a
statement that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. Any buyer or lessee must satisfy himself by inspection or otherwise on these matters and as to the correctness of any other information. 4. The VAT
position relating to the property is subject to change without prior notice. Particulars dated November 2012.
01635 551441
www.quintons.co.uk
38 London Road, Newbury RG14 1JX
Car Storage Layout