A MULTINATIONAL ejector seat manufacturer that faces losing part of its Oxfordshire base has won a $38.5m contract from the American Missile Defense Agency.
Martin-Baker is currently based at Chalgrove Airfield but Government agency Homes England wants to use part of it for up to 3,000 homes – and move the company to another section. #
According to US Department for Defense documents, the contract for parachute deployment rocket motors and underseat rocket motors used in three models of planes will last for three years.
Work will be based at Martin-Baker's base in Uxbridge until March 2022.
READ AGAIN: 'Contentious' homes plan for Chalgrove Airfield to be submitted
So far the company has resisted any discussions to move operations from the airfield, which it wants to use until at least the mid-2060s. The land is owned by Homes England.
Last month, Ken Glendinning, Homes England's head of strategic land, said using a compulsory purchase order to move Martin-Baker off the parcel of land it is using remained a ‘last resort’.
He said he remained hopeful the company could eventually restart talks to move soon.
The homes form part of a controversial part to build up to 28,500 new homes in South Oxfordshire by the mid-2030s.
The airfield is the only major strategic site that is not in the Green Belt.
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