The weapons testing base at Shoebury could be off-loaded to a private company under new proposals have revealed.

Government minister Baroness Symons has announced plans to turn over around 75 per cent of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency to the private sector.

However, some of the most sensitive parts of the agency, including the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down would remain part of the Ministry of Defence.

The New Ranges at Shoebury could also remain in public ownership because it has a rare capability for testing long-range missiles for 22km across sand and mud.

New Ranges is the only site in the world, apart from one in Australia, to have the necessary space and conditions to successfully achieve this type of testing.

A Defence Evaluation and Research Agency spokesman said it was too early to tell whether the Shoebury site would transfer to a private company.

She also said it was difficult to determine the impact on ambitious new proposals for parts of New Ranges which could create 1,000 new jobs.

A company called Unigro has unveiled its pioneering proposals to set up a "hydroganic" system of growing fruit, vegetables and pharmaceuticals on untouched land at New Ranges.

The process, which has taken 28 years to develop, will be housed in hi-tech buildings, made of three-layer plastic, built on Havengore and New England islands.

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