Exciting Future for Daedalus as SEEDA Acquires Strategic Site

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) has confirmed that it is acquiring an 82.4 ha (204 acre) site from Defence Estates (DE) – an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) - at the former HMS Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent in South Hampshire. The remainder of the site, consisting of 106 hectares (256 acres),is being acquired by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Daedalus is a strategic site in South Hampshire and its development will contribute to sub-regional growth priorities and economic development. Recognised as one of the largest brownfield sites in the Solent area for regeneration, it offers an opportunity to provide new employment, business accommodation and homes.

The strategic acquisition of this land by SEEDA will see the Agency working over the next three to four years with local planning authorities, and key stakeholders, including businesses and local communities, to agree a development vision for the future of the area.

SEEDA’s Executive Director of Development and Infrastructure, Paul Hudson commented: “SEEDA’s investment in a site of this scale will act as a catalyst for economic development in South Hampshire. A key objective for the Agency is to remediate redundant brownfield sites and turn them into vibrant and sustainable communities of the future, relieving the pressure on greenfield sites.”

“We look forward to working with partners to develop a mixed-use scheme that maximises improvements in the quality of life for residents and employees.”

“The lack of availability of serviced employment land and new business space has been identified as an important requirement in South Hampshire. Our intention is that development of the site will focus on new aviation and marine related businesses, exploiting access to the existing runways and the Solent. Plans are to create a qualitybusiness location that will attract inward investment and provide accommodation for start-up, growing and established businesses.”

SEEDA will also look at providing some housing provision on the site with a mix of quality homes, including key worker and affordable housing.

Councilor Mandry, Deputy Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, on behalf of the Daedalus Strategy Group (which includes representatives of all the relevant local authorities) commented: “The Daedalus Strategy Group is delighted by the acquisitions of the Daedalus site by SEEDA and the MCA. SEEDA’s involvement will ensure comprehensive and co-ordinated development of the built area, in pursuit of economic development objectives and in line with proposals for development by the Partnership Urban South Hampshire (PUSH). MCA’s purchase of the bulk of the airfield will satisfy the aspirations of the local authorities to retain the Strategic Gap between Stubbington / Lee-on-Solent and Fareham / Gosport.” The whole site, covering a total area of 186.4 ha (460 acre), was formerly used as a military airfield by the MoD but has since been declared surplus to their requirements and available for redevelopment. In July 2004 it was registered, in accordance with Government Accounting Rules, with English Partnerships as available for acquisition by other Government Departments. As a result of this registration, two Priority Assessment Reports were received from SEEDA and MCA. The MCA is purchasing the remainder of the site to invest alongside Hampshire Police in providing new facilities and improvements to the runway.

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