DEVELOPERS of a former RAF site have put 22 buildings on the market for rent or sale to business users.

Developers City and Country Group bought the 'domestic site' of RAF Bicester in April for £20m, including 17 grade II listed buildings. The offices, storage, laboratories and restaurant are in good repair because until last year they supported a workforce of 300 supplying clothing to the Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, the 'technical site' at the airfield on the opposite side of the A4421 at Caversfield — listed as being a major part of Britain's military aviation heritage — is falling into disrepair.

Some 19 listed buildings on the unsold side have been identified as “at risk” by English Heritage, but Cherwell District Council is powerless to intervene because the site still belongs to the Crown. Councillor Michael Gibbard, portfolio holder for planning and housing for Cherwell District Council, said the airfield site was ‘in limbo’. “We would have preferred Defence Estates to have sold the site as a whole, because the rents could have helped to maintain the listed buildings on the airfield.”

RAF Bicester was one of the best preserved bomber bases built during Sir Hugh Trenchard’s expansion of the RAF from 1923. It trained bomber crews during the Second World War and the airfield is now used by Windrushers Glider Club.

Mr Gibbard said he had been impressed by City and Country's consultation exhibition earlier this month at Caversfield, showing its work developing other historic sites across Britain. “We would like to see the domestic site developed to provide both housing and jobs, while preserving the historic fabric,” he said.

Chris White, of agents White Commercial, which is marketing the office and industrial space jointly with Lambert Smith Hampton, said there was a shortage of office space in North Oxfordshire, particularly in Bicester. As well as offices, the buildings could also be used as laboratory or industrial space, said Mr White.

Residents are being invited to comment on the future of the domestic site. Ideas include a business park, a 'managed retirement community', a nursing home or a hotel or hostel, said City and Country.

It hopes to submit a planning application towards the end of the year.