Savills sells former RAF airbase at Upper Rissington20th August 2012

On behalf of Gladedale, Savills has sold a 173 acre site at Upper Rissington to developers Bovis and Linden Homes. The site forms part of RAF Little Rissington, a former airbase that was decommissioned in the 1990s, and is located approximately 1.5 miles to the east of Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire.

The site was sold with planning permission[1] to partially demolish a number of former military buildings to make way for 368 new homes and a number of additional ancillary commercial buildings. The planning permission also allows for the conversion of a number of buildings to residential occupation, notably the former Officers’ Mess, the Station’s sick quarters, the former station’s head quarters and the former education block.

Julian Harbottle from Savills said: “Opportunities of this size in this location are rare and we received significant interest in this site, which lead to competitive bidding. Access to the countryside and to local schools at Chipping Camden and Bourton are in great demand by families looking to live in the area. Other key drivers are the Oxford and Cheltenham markets, as well as Swindon, which are all within commuting distance for work and shopping.

[1] The consented area in this sale extends to approximately 173 acres and forms just a part of the whole consented area, given that the wider application covers upgrades to infrastructure and other services for which the Vendor is responsible for managing and maintaining.