Homes go on sale at former air base in Norfolk

Prepare to scramble this weekend as 330 good-value homes - including stylish officers’ quarters - go on sale at former air base RAF Coltishall in Norfolk, a 90-minute commute from London.

The 600-acre base, which played a key role in the Battle of Britain, closed in 2006 and developer Annington, which owns 57,000 former MoD properties, took on the sale of its married quarters.

Included in the sale is a pair of imposing eight-bedroom detached houses, once the residence of the base’s commander and deputy commander, on the market for £450,000 each.

Flats and terraced houses, covering 50 acres, and priced from £75,950 to £239,950, make up the rest of the sale.

The abandoned base is in a rural setting surrounded by open countryside and close to the village of Coltishall, which has a village green, antiques shops and riverside pubs. North Walsham, a popular market town, is six miles away; Norwich, 12 miles.

The officers’ homes, built in 1945, give an opportunity to buy big, good-value family houses. Giles Hart of estate agent William H Brown, says: “The accommodation is extensive, reflecting the status of their former occupants. The original layouts are intact, with large reception rooms and large gardens.”

The houses are located in a secluded part of the former base, which is an emerging neighbourhood with a recently restored community church. Property viewings start this weekend. Call 01603 736643.

Annington has many other military homes, mostly standard terrace houses, ready for refurbishment and sale, having already sold more than 14,500 properties. At former RAF Biggin Hill, Kent, houses are priced from £280,000. Call 01959 572177.