MoD calls for development ideas

The Ministry of Defence are inviting bids from rail freight contractors to develop a 1,550-acre site next to barracks near Bicester in Oxfordshire.

The land, by St David's Barracks, has 36 miles of barely-used rail track and warehouses which the MoD said it thinks could be put to better use.

Development of the rail infrastructure would not affect the nearby site's use as a distribution centre, the MoD said.

It is holding an open day on 29 January to show potential developers around.

The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) who run the compound advertised it as "a rail freight development opportunity" in trade magazines.

A housing development has been ruled out as the ministry said it wanted a business that would sit alongside MoD activities.

A spokesman for the agency said: "There are no plans to divest any of the DSDA site at Bicester.

"But there is an opportunity to develop potential use of the rail infrastructure and main-line rail connection at the site, if this offers value for money to the taxpayer."

The MoD said it is open to ideas.