The new owner of the historic Shoebury Garrison site, who bought it for more than £8m, has been revealed at last.

The 182-acre site known as the Old Ranges and Horseshoe Barracks has been sold to Surrey-based Gladedale Homes, which aims to create around 450 homes, as well as commercial and leisure facilities.

Although the actual sale - at a price of £8,155,000 - took place in January, the identity of the new owners has been kept secret by the Ministry of Defence until now.

An outline planning application could be submitted within two months and the development could bring with it a new school on the site and new access to the foreshore with a cycle route.

The commercial director of Gladedale Homes, Ross Brodie, said: "This is very much a mixed scheme - it is commercial, residential and hopefully leisure, as well.

"It is a substantial site - we have 20 acres currently pencilled in for commercial use. We would want to make the initial planning application, we would hope, within two months.

"Within the plan we have got allocation for a new school site, but we don't know whether the council wants to build a new school."

Mr Brodie said a public meeting regarding the site was going to be arranged with Southend Council, but as yet no date had been set.

He said that the development - which could take six to seven years to complete - would bring employment opportunities and new access to the seafront which had previously been unavailable.

He added: "You must not forget the heritage in the buildings themselves which will be brought back into use. The plans are at a very early stage and very much in line with planning brief."

The historic garrison is the site of numerous listed buildings of historic or special architectural interest and also contains a defensive pre-historic enclosure which is now a scheduled ancient monument.

Southend Councillor Jean Sibley (Lib Dem, Westborough Ward), cabinet member with responsibility for environmental matters, said: "We look forward to receiving the planning applications as soon as possible so that further consultation with the community can take place as previously agreed."

Thank you - Gladedale's Remo Dipre receives the garrison keys from Ian Hay of Defence Estates

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Teddy disappointed at garrison scheme

Shoebury's MP Sir Teddy Taylor today said he was disappointed the garrison was to become "a housing development with some extra items."

Sir Teddy (Southend East and Rochford) said that he regards the site as one of the most glorious in the county and would have liked to have seen something other than housing there.

He said: "It is no secret that I am disappointed that what is one of the loveliest sites in Essex was not used as something like a university or a museum instead of what is basically a housing development with some extra items which we will have to identify.

"It is particularly sad the officers' mess, which is such a glorious building, has not been identified for its use, because I would have thought anyone looking at this site would realise that it was the most exciting feature."

Sir Teddy added that at least there was some comfort in the fact that new owners Gladedale Homes Ltd was reputable, responsible and experienced and the case for a relief road was stronger than ever.

Mike Assenheim, chairman of Shoebury Residents' Association, echoed the need for action over the extra traffic to come.

He said: "The roads will just not take it. I feel the amount of housing they are instigating is a lot for the area. They seem to have the cart before the horse."

Mr Assenheim said he was giving the proposed development on the site "a very cautious welcome" and wondered if the jobs created would be of the right calibre for the people of Shoebury.

He said: "I think if it is done tastefully, it could do nothing but improve the town, but they have got to do it with the people who already live in Shoebury in mind."

Southend Councillor Verina Wilson (Con, Shoebury Ward) said she was delighted there had been an announcement about the site for the sake of Shoebury residents.

She said: "It has been a great worry to the residents of Shoebury by it being kept secret.

"I will be keeping a very sharp eye on the planning applications."

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