Last updated 17:39, Saturday, 29 March 2008

THE future of the former RNAD arms depot at Broughton Moor is hanging on the outcome of a probate court case into the site’s mineral rights.

With only three days to go until the Ministry of Defence deadline of March 31 for the sale of the land to Allerdale council, no progress can be made until the mineral issue has been sorted.

Allerdale council regeneration chief David Martin confirmed yesterday that the council’s involvement in the massive Derwent Forest scheme had reached a “critical” time.

He said: “We are talking to the Ministry of Defence constantly, keeping them up to date with what is happening.”

What he described as a “crucial” court case was held on March 10 but he said the council was “cautiously optimistic.”

Mr Martin added: “Lawyers are talking but we do not have any idea when the situation will be resolved. We hope it will be soon.”

The mineral rights are owned by the Lonsdale Settled Estates (LSE).

The LSE had previously agreed to a removal of a restrictive covenant and given what amounted to a consent to develop.

Recently, however, the LSE had been in negotiation with several interested parties and withdrew the offer.

The court decision on LSE probate issues is now seen as the key remaining outstanding decision affecting progress on the regeneration of Derwent Forest.

It was recently reported that coal extraction rights had been bought by international mining group Kier, leading to speculation that opencast mining could be carried out on the site which has a rich coal vein.

But Mr Martin has ruled that out, along with any other heavy industrial activity.

He said: “This property is a gem. If we acquire it we will use it for something that will have a positive benefit on neighbouring communities and I believe it will be a significant asset not just for Allerdale but for West Cumbria and Cumbria.”

He said the vision was still for a site which would combine some commercial activity, a small residential area and tourism and leisure facilities.

“I personally think it would be ideal for golf courses, a good spa hotel, quality residences and some commercial or research units,” he said.

But he said marketing had to be flexible and the Derwent Forest Partnership would have to see what applications came in.

He said several of the people who had expressed an initial interest in the development of Derwent Forest were still interested.

But he added that some of the first applications depended on public money and were not viable in their own right.

If and when Allerdale council acquires the land, it will be marketed vigorously, he said.

Mr Martin said the process has been much longer and more drawn out than anyone had anticipated.

But he said the next few weeks would be critical and once a final decision on the mineral rights was made, matters could progress.

He added: “But whatever happens, Allerdale has only four years left on this project. If we have acquired the land and not managed to do anything by then, we will withdraw.”

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