SOME of the land on the former Naval arms store at Dean Hill is being sold back to its original owners, while some of its industrial buildings could go on the open market in the Spring.

The Defence Munitions Centre, Dean Hill, formerly known as the Royal Naval Armaments Depot, was closed on April 1st last year after the Ministry of Defence decided it was surplus to operational requirements.

It had been a vital ammunition store since 1942.

Its sale is being managed by Defence Estates and a spokesperson said this week that sales of 25 of its 35 staff houses have been completed, with seven sold subject to contract and three still on the market.

The land of the depot itself, which was compulsorily purchased in the 1930s, had to be offered back to its original owners at current market prices and the spokesperson added:

"Defence Estate, the MoD's property adviser, has, where appropriate, written to the former owners and their successors inviting them to register an interest in buying back their land at current market value and a number have registered an interest. These sales are being progressed."

Large areas of the land, which are covered by woods and fields have not lost their countryside character since they were bought by the MoD, but some are now occupied by the stores, workshops and testing laboratories built for the Admiralty.

"The materially changed land not sold back to the former owners will be sold on the open market," the spokesperson said, adding that marketing was unlikely to start before March, 2005.

Talks have taken place between Defence Estates and local planning authorities, as well as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, which manages and conserves large areas of unspoilt countryside and the authorities have drawn up their own planning position statement.

But it is unlikely that there will be any major residential development on the land and Test Valley Borough Council's head of planning, Maddy Winter, said: "The land is countryside and there is very little potential for development.

"However, existing buildings may be appropriate for commercial use."

There might also be scope, she said, for using the underground tunnels., previously used for ammunition, for storage purposes."

The council might consider allowing a small amount of residential development if a new owner came up with a plan which could ensure the character of the land into the long-term future and also involved public access.