SIR John Moore Barracks on the edge of Winchester is under threat, a meeting heard.

In an announcement at cabinet yesterday, leader of Winchester City Council Stephen Godfrey said: “We had been approached by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation about their view of land that is being considered for release from military services.

“Sir John Moore Barracks is on the list for review and we are expecting an announcement in the near future.

“I have written to (ministers) Mark Lancaster and Greg Clark and Steve Brine to express my concerns that a decision to close the barracks means a connection to the military going back 200 years would be lost. This land contains valuable employment and we do not want to see employment lost during the change.

“We do not want to see that land used for housing redevelopment we know our local plan is very clear about that matter.” The news comes only a month after the Chronicle revealed the 25-year-old barracks was in danger.

At the time the Ministry of Defence said it had “no plans” to sell the site at Littleton.

Cllr Godfrey told the Chronicle last month that he does not want to see the land earmarked for housing as he says Winchester has enough land allocated for housing, such as Barton Farm, to last for another 20 years.

Every year around 1,000 recruits go through 14 weeks of basic training at the Army Training Regiment Winchester. Around 300 staff are employed there.

The MoD has plans to cut its land estate by around 30 per cent. Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said the base would make the “perfect place” for a Chilworth-style science park. The barracks opened in 1986. In a statement the Defence Infrastructure Organisation issued the same statement as a month ago, saying the barracks was among several bases whose future was under review.