A BUILDING firm hoping to secure a Beaconsfield MoD site for a major development insists it is not at a disadvantage in its bid against a well-established rival.

Jansons Property threw its hat into the ring this month as a rival bidder to Inland Homes for the Wilton Park site near London End, currently home to the Defence School of Languages.

Inland Homes is already working with South Bucks District Council on a supplementary planning document for the large-scale development for up to 300 new homes, having held a public consultation in March.

But Jansons director Michael Tomkins is adamant this does not leave the Beaconsfield-based firm’s rival bid at a disadvantage, with the MoD, and not the council, having the final say on the buyer.

And he claims the ‘superior alternative’ to the access layout will in fact benefit his company in the bidding process.

“To a certain extent, it all comes down to the sale of the site,” he said. It’s an MoD sale, so it has to be an open market process subject to public scrutiny.

“There is no legal agreement between the MoD and Inland Homes, and it is in the public interest for another bidder to be on board.

“This way, if it drives the price up, there will be more money available for the possible community benefits. But the MoD will consider many different factors with the bids, not just the price.

“It will consider the likelihood of the access being supportable and sustainable, because if it is not, there is less chance of the building going ahead and more likely someone will pull out of the sale.”

Jansons now controls 60 acres of land to the south of Wilton Park, which it would use to create a different access route to the plan outlined by Inland Homes.

The firm claims this would allow a new relief road to run straight from Pyebush Roundabout to where it rejoins the A355 without Wilton Park hampering the flow of the long-mooted bypass.

It would also create bus, pedestrian and cycle access from the west via Minerva Way, with a bridge over any new relief road, which bus company Carousel said it could incorporate into its current timetable.

And Mr Tomkins insists public feeling is key to the whole project, with Jansons set to consult the public over the plans in the next two months before the bidding process with the MoD begins in the spring.

With community buildings such as theatres and a swimming pool high up on residents’ agenda, Mr Tomkins said Jansons will work with people to establish the maximum benefit to all parties.

Jansons has met with Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve, as well as the Town Council and Wilton Park Watch, the group set up to ensure the maximum community benefit from the scheme.

In April, Mr Grieve stressed the importance of transparency in the bidding process for the site.

South Bucks District Council has refused to comment on the new bid from Jansons.

Inland Homes insist there is no change to its plan, with spokesman Max Camplin saying it will continue to work with SBDC on the supplementary planning document.

And the original bidder then plans consult the public on the document towards the end of the year.